Plan of Ayala - The Plan

The Plan

The Plan was drafted with the help of local schoolteacher—and Zapata's mentor—Otilio Montaño Sánchez. It detailed Zapata's ideology and vision succinctly in the cry ""Reforma, Libertad, Justicia y Ley!" ("Reform, Freedom, Justice and Law!"), later (after Zapata's death) shortened to "Tierra y Libertad!" ("Land and Freedom!", a phrase first used by Ricardo Flores Magón as the title for one of his books). The main points in the Plan were:

• Rejection of Madero's presidency and a call for free elections once the situation in the country had stabilized;
• Naming of Pascual Orozco as the legitimate leader of the Revolution;
• Devolution of land and property to townships and citizens, as opposed to being owned by large hacendados;
• Confirmation of the agrarian nature of the Revolution.

The June 1914 amendment was prompted by Orozco's betrayal of the movement, which forced Zapata to become head of the Revolution. The amendment ratified the original intent of the Plan and called for a continuation of the conflict until the deposition of President Victoriano Huerta—who had ordered Madero's murder—and the establishment of a government loyal to the principles of the Plan.