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Zapatistas

Zapatistas. Unit 8 Notes. Who are the Zapatistas?. a group of Mexicans who support improved rights & living conditions for Mexico’s indigenous people named after Emiliano Zapata, who lived in the early 20 th century & fought for the rights of native people in Mexico

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Zapatistas

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  1. Zapatistas Unit 8 Notes

  2. Who are the Zapatistas? • a group of Mexicans who support improved rights & living conditions for Mexico’s indigenous people • named after Emiliano Zapata, who lived in the early 20th century & fought for the rights of native people in Mexico • In the late 1900s, the Zapatistas were known for harassment and sabotage against the government.

  3. Emiliano Zapata • 1880-1919 • poor mestizo sharecropper • hero in the Mexican revolution of 1914-1915 • demanded justice for the indigenous people of Mexico

  4. What is Guerrilla Warfare? • sudden, unexpected acts carried about by groups that fight using “hit and run” tactics • Many terrorist groups employ guerrilla warfare.

  5. Chiapas • The uprising is focused in the Mexican state of Chiapas. • It’s a resource-rich state in southern Mexico: • produces over half of Mexico’s hydroelectric power • 2nd largest petroleum producing state • Largest coffee exporting state • So what’s the big deal there?

  6. What’s the Big Deal? • Chiapas has the worst rates of poverty in Mexico: • three-fourths of its people are malnourished, half live in dwellings with dirt floors • 19% of the population has no income • 39% earn less than minimum wage ($3/day) • Chiapas is a huge contributor to the global economy (water, oil, etc.), but is getting little in return. • huge division between rich & poor in the state

  7. NAFTA & the Zapatistas… • 1994—North American Free Trade Agreement came into effect & allowed free trade between US, Canada, & Mexico • Some people in Mexico did not like this plan: • thought that NAFTA would allow cheap farm goods to come into Mexico from the US • thought NAFTA benefitted the wealthy and hurt the poor Native American farmers by lowering prices of crops like coffee and corn • farmers in Mexico would not be able to compete with the cheaper food

  8. NAFTA & the Zapatistas… • On the day NAFTA took effect, the Zapatistas took over 7 towns in their part of Mexico (state of Chiapas). • The Mexican army was sent to remove the Zapatistas. • fighting lasted for several weeks, & a cease-fire eventually ended the fighting • Zapatistas did not go away

  9. Armed Takeover in Chiapas01/01/94

  10. Zapatistas’ Concerns • agreements between the Zapatistas & the government have not solved the peoples’ problems • They argued that the indigenous people of Mexico needed more help to improve healthcare, housing education, & jobs.

  11. Latest Developments • Seven years after the 1st revolt, on March 11, 2001, the Zapatistas marched to Mexico City and addressed Congress. • They encouraged the passage of an Indigenous Rights Bill. • Unfortunately, the bill was unsuccessful due to Congress radically changing it and denying indigenous people certain rights.

  12. Latest Developments • January 2003: Rose up again armed with machetes denouncing neoliberalism (free trade policies), ecotourism, foreign investment and plans for war with Iraq • have aggressively detained several foreigners in an effort to deter foreign investment

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