Emiliano Zapata. Prologue. Hero or Bandit? 1879? 1919

Transcription

1 Emiliano Zapata Hero or Bandit? 1879? 1919 Prologue In Mexico, some call Emiliano Zapata a bandit. Some call him a hero. During the Mexican Revolution of 1910, he formed an army and took land from landowners. He said the land belonged to the peasants and gave it back to them. In 1919, his enemies ambushed him and shot him dead. His followers refused to believe it. Did Zapata really die? They had seen him riding in the night on his great stallion. Then, as time went on, people made up songs and stories about their hero. Viva, Zapata, they cried! Bandit or hero, which was he? Photocopyable 2012 Pro Lingua Associates Emiliano Zapata Real Life Stories 43

2 Vocabulary Listen to and say these words. to rage (RAIJ) peasant (PEZ uhnt) to favor (FAI VER) to capture (KAP CHER) innocent (IN uh SuhNT) an ambush (AM BUSH) a legend (LE JuhND descent (DI SENT) to confiscate (KAHN FI SKAIT) to urge (ERJ) to outsmart (OUT SMAHRT) to switch (SWICH) to assassinate (uh SAS uh NAIT) a martyr (MAHR TER) Fill in the blanks with the words in the box. You may need to change the form of the words. 1. The laws the rich. They could do what they wanted. 2. The bandits the army. They were always one step ahead. 3. Many people were killed. They did nothing wrong. 4. Throughout history, many leaders have been. 5. Some soldiers decided to to the other side. 6. A has little money and land. 7. The war for ten years. 8. Many people of Spanish immigrated to Mexico. 9. The hero became a who died for the people. 10. A may or may not be completely true. 11. The popular leader the people to revolt. 12. Many soldiers were and sent to prison. 13. The federal police tried to all the bandits weapons. 14. Zapata was killed in an. The soldiers were hiding and waiting for him. 44 Real Life Stories Emiliano Zapata Photocopyable 2012 Pro Lingua Associates

3 The Story Between 1910 and 1920, the Mexican Revolution raged like a wildfire throughout the country. It was all about land. A handful of families, generally of European descent, owned it. The rest of the population, the peasant farmers, owned little or nothing. Their land had been confiscated. Emiliano Zapata knew that the system was cruel and unjust. The laws always seemed to favor the rich. He became a leader of the peasants and urged them to take back their land. They responded to his cry of Tierra y Libertad (Land and Liberty) and took the land. In the state of Morelos, Zapata and his supporters (Zapatistas) owned and farmed the land they had taken by force. They were ready to protect their land. President Carranza was not happy with this situation. He sent an army to Morelos to capture and kill Zapata. But the Zapatistas outsmarted the army. They knew every hill, road, and river. They knew how and when to attack. During the day they were innocent farmers. At night they were soldiers. One day, Zapata heard that an army officer wanted to switch sides and join the Zapatistas. Would Zapata be willing to meet him? Zapata agreed. On April 10, 1919, Zapata rode into a hacienda for the meeting. It was an ambush. Zapata was shot dead on the spot. Years after he was assassinated, legends grew about Zapata. People claimed they saw him riding in the night sky. He became remembered as a champion of the people, a hero and martyr forever. Photocopyable 2012 Pro Lingua Associates Emiliano Zapata Real Life Stories 45

4 The Gapped Story Listen to or read the story and fill in the gaps. Between 1910 and 1920, the Mexican Revolution like a wildfire throughout the country. It was all about land. A handful of families, generally of European, owned it. The rest of the population, the farmers, owned little or nothing. Their land had been. Emiliano Zapata knew that the system was cruel and unjust. The laws always seemed to the rich. He became a leader of the peasants and them to take back their land. They responded to his cry of Tierra y Libertad (Land and Liberty) and took the land. In the state of Morelos, Zapata and his supporters (Zapatistas) owned and farmed the land they had taken by force. They were ready to protect their land. President Carranza was not happy with this situation. He sent an army to Morelos to and kill Zapata. But the Zapatistas the army. They knew every hill, road, and river. They knew how and when to attack. During the day they were farmers. At night they were soldiers. One day, Zapata heard that an army officer wanted to sides and join the Zapatistas. Would Zapata be willing to meet him? Zapata agreed. On April 10, 1919, Zapata rode into a hacienda for the meeting. It was an. Zapata was shot dead on the spot. Years after he was, grew about Zapata. People claimed they saw him riding in the night sky. He became remembered as a champion of the people, a hero and forever. 46 Real Life Stories Emiliano Zapata Photocopyable 2012 Pro Lingua Associates

5 Tell The Story Use the words below to tell the story. Go down the column. the Mexican Revolution a handful of families peasant farmers confiscated to favor the rich Emiliano Zapata urged Land and Liberty Morelos Zapatistas President Carranza capture outsmarted innocent farmers switch sides hacienda meeting ambush assassinated legends the night sky a champion a martyr Photocopyable 2012 Pro Lingua Associates Emiliano Zapata Real Life Stories 47

6 Dictation 1. What raged throughout the country? 2. Who were the landowners? 3. Whose land did they confiscate? 4. Who did the system favor? 5. What did Zapata urge the peasants to do? 6. Did the president want to meet with Zapata? 7. Did the larger federal army outsmart the Zapatistas? 8. Were the Zapatistas innocent farmers? 9. Who said he wanted to switch sides? 10. Did Zapata escape the ambush? 11. After Zapata was assassinated, what happened? Summing Up Jack: Bandit or hero? My take on it is Zapata stood up for the peasants, and... Jill: But he also took up arms against the government. Jack: Exactly! The rich and powerful had the government in their pocket. Jill: That made him a marked man, and his days were numbered. Write FYI Write about a hero and what he or she did. OR Write a brief history of a revolution. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/emiliano_zapata Real Life Stories Emiliano Zapata Photocopyable 2012 Pro Lingua Associates