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What does "¡Viva Zapata!" mean?

"¡Viva Zapata!" means "Long live Zapata!" It was the expression of support for rebel general Emiliano Zapata (1879–1919) during the Mexican Revolution (1910–20). An advocate of Mexico's poor, Zapata began revolutionary activities against the government of Porfirio Díaz (1830–1915) in 1897. Zapata became an important public figure by helping the idealistic leader Francisco Madero (1873–1913) overthrow Díaz in 1911. Once Madero was in power, Zapata began pressing for a program to distribute hacienda (large estate) lands to the peasants. When Madero refused, Zapata drafted the Plan of Ayala and renewed the revolution. Madero's government never achieved stability, and in 1913 Victoriano Huerta (1854–1916) seized power from Madero, whom he had helped put into office. Madero was shot and killed in the resulting overthrow of the government.

Zapata refused to support Huerta....

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