General Poncho Villa Monument, Tucson, AZ
Posted by: 
Poehunters
N 32° 13.283 W 110° 58.373
12S E 502555 N 3564975
General Poncho Villa can be found on Broadway in Tucson, AZ.
Waymark Code: WMHVMG
Location: Arizona, United States
Date Posted: 08/16/2013
Views: 23
Poncho Villa was a charismatic leader. He and his band of supporters moved to the sierras and cultivated a reputation for social banditry: they were renegades of the wilderness who thwarted Porfirio Díaz's brutal rurales and often provided the suffering peasantry with food.
In 1910 he came out of hiding to join Francisco Madero's movement to overthrow the Díaz government. Villa used his natural charm to convince thousands of men to join the cause and to establish the División del Norte, which included an entire squadron of Americans. His military campaigns were victorious throughout Mexico. Madero was successfully empowered, but rival Victoriano Huerta quickly had him assassinated and seized power. Huerta had imprisoned Villa, but the commander of the División del Norte escaped and made his way to El Paso, where he recruited supporters and plotted the overthrow of Huerta. His unorthodox exploits and undeniable charm captured the imagination of U.S. newsmen and Hollywood producers alike, who rushed to Mexico in droves to record his battles, some of which were staged for their benefit.
Villa maintained control over northern Mexico throughout the revolution, financing his army through cattle rustling. Border towns in the United States provided eager markets for beef, and some merchants enthusiastically sold him arms. The flagging Mexican economy didn't impede Villa: he simply issued his own money and threatened to kill those who hesitated to take it. When the United States government openly supported Venustiano Carranza's bid for power, Villa was incensed and retaliated by raiding towns along the border, including Columbus, New Mexico. While Americans were aghast, many Mexicans saw the raids as justified retribution against their yanqui oppressors.
The U.S. Army sent punitive expeditions into Mexico in 1916 and 1919 but failed to defeat Villa. Finally, he surrendered his forces to the Mexican government in 1920 and retired to Canutillo, Durango. He was assassinated in 1923.
On the base is a plaque inscribed:
"In Friendship"
The Equestrian Statue of the Mexican Revolutionary Figure
General Francisco Villa
1877-1929
presented by
President Jose Lopez - Portillo
Republic of Mexico
to the
State of Arizona
June 30, 1981
Name of the revolution that the waymark is related to:
Mexican Revolution
Adress of the monument:
72 W Broadway Blvd
Tucson, AZ United States
85701
What was the role of this site in revolution?:
He joined the revolution and became the commander of the Northern Division for the Mexican Revolution.
When was this memorial placed?: 06/30/1981
Who placed this monument?: President Jose Lopez - Portillo Republic of Mexico
Link that comprove that role: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
Post at least one clear picture of the monument, and if it's possible, where you are on. More pictures are welcome.
Please write your impression about the monument.