How did the Zapatista
guerilla movement
impact Mexico?
SS6H3b. Explain the impact and
political outcomes of the Zapatista
guerrilla movement in Mexico.
Use your graphic organizer to record
important information.
The Zapatista Guerrilla
Movement
What is a Guerrilla Movement?
A Guerrilla is a Spanish word
describing a small group of
fighters who use surprise attacks
to defeat a stronger force.
Zapatista Guerilla Movement
In 1994, the Zapatista rebellion
stared in the southern Mexican
state of Chiapas.
What should you have so far?
Guerrilla is a Spanish word describing
a small group of fighters who use
surprise attacks to defeat a stronger force
Stared in the Southern
Mexican state of Chiapas
Who?
The Zapatista Guerrilla
Movement was made up of
Native Americans
(indigenous people) rising
up against the Mexican
government.
Who?
The group called the Zapatista
National Liberation Army was
named for Emiliano Zapata, an
Indian farmer and hero of the
Mexican Revolution.
What did Zapata mean by this statement?
How does it reflect the Zapatista
Guerrilla Movement?
What should you have so far?
Guerrilla is a Spanish word describing
a small group of fighters who use
surprise attacks to defeat a stronger force
Started in the Southern
Mexican state of Chiapas
-Native Americans (indigenous people) rising
up against the Mexican government
-Called the Zapatista National Liberation
Army named for Emiliano Zapata, an Indian
farmer and hero of the Mexican Revolution
Why?
They protested the
poverty faced by Native
Americans (indigenous
people) and other farmers
in that part of Mexico
Many of the indigenous
people in Chiapas felt that
they were being treated like
second class citizens.
What do you think this
means and why did they
feel this way?
Tariff Use Activity
Why?
The revolt began after a new trade
agreement between Mexico,
Canada, and the U.S. took effect.
The North American Free Trade
Agreement (NAFTA) removed
trade barriers and tariffs among
the countries.
Why?
Poor Mexican farmers did not
like NAFTA because cheap corn
and other food products from
the U.S. began to rush into
Mexico, forcing down the
amount they could charge for
their crops.
Why?
The farmers were also
upset because land that
had been granted to the
people in the Constitution
was now being taken away.
Zapatistas took four towns in
Chiapas and more than 100
people died in the fighting.
The government gained
control back, but they were
now forced to address the
problems.
Impact & Political
Outcome
O Political reforms were put into place
to improve the lives of the Native
Americans
O There were improvements in
housing and education
O Fair division of land
O Laws to make sure Native Americans
were represented in the national
legislature
Zapatista Movement
[select one]
O Who are the Zapatistas [7:38]
O BBC What happened to
Mexico’s rebel Zapatistas [3:05]
O Chiapas and NAFTA
Documentary Film [16:40]
Summarizer:
Describe the Zapatista
Guerrilla Movement and
how it impacted Mexico.