Research uprisings and resistance movements in the Americas. Explain what you
found in your research here. Record your answers below.
Do a web search and research a
secondary source about uprisings and
resistance in the Americas. Explain what you found and why you chose it. Provide a
link or picture of your source.
Describe your secondary source here.
What is it? Who wrote it?
Why did you choose this source?
Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN), guerrilla group in Mexico, founded in the late 20th century and named for the early 20th-century peasant revolutionary Emiliano Zapata. On Jan. 1, 1994, the Zapatistas staged a rebellion from their base in Chiapas, the southernmost Mexican state, to protest economic policies that they believed would negatively affect Mexico’s indigenous population. The insurgency later developed into a forceful political movement that advocated for Mexico’s disenfranchised Indians. The early history of the Zapatista movement is obscure. Although members claimed that the group had been founded as early as 1983, it did not begin to attract followers
until the early 1990s. The Zapatistas gained international attention with their uprising on January 1, 1994, the same day that the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) came into effect.
The Zapatistas' demands were focused on indigenous rights, land reform, democracy, and an end to neoliberal economic policies. They criticized the Mexican government for its corruption, exploitation, and marginalization of indigenous communities. The movement drew support from various sectors of Mexican society, as well as sympathizers and activists from around the world.
The Zapatistas employed guerrilla tactics, seizing control of several towns in Chiapas and engaging in armed confrontations with the Mexican army. However, they soon shifted their strategy towards nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience. They established autonomous zones, known as Zapatista Autonomous Municipalities, where they implemented their own forms of self-governance and promoted indigenous rights.
I chose this source because the Zapatista uprising is a significant example of resistance and uprising in the Americas. It highlights the struggle for indigenous rights and social justice. The Zapatistas' use of both armed resistance and nonviolent tactics makes their story particularly interesting and relevant. Additionally, the source is a concise overview of the movement, providing a good starting point for further research.
Source:
"Zapatista National Liberation Army." (n.d.). Britannica. Retrieved from: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Zapatista-National-Liberation-Army