The year 1910 marked the beginning of reform within the Mexican political order. Proposals such as Francisco Maderos Plan of San Luis Potosi and The Plan de Ayala by Emiliano Zapata denounced the rigid control of dictator Porfirio Diaz, stating that the existing government offered no concessions to the Mexican people. In an effort to overthrow Diaz, Maderos plan for revolution declared the current government nonexistent beginning at six oclock on the evening of November 20, 1910. Emiliano Zapata, however, developed a plan resulting from his own lost faith in Maderos goals and unfulfilled promises. On November 25, 1910, Zapata offered his own proposal to continue the revolution begun by (Madero) until the overthrow of the dictatorship is achieved. While both men declared their own ideals of freedom and justice, it is quite evident that the Plan of San Luis Potosi and The Plan de Ayala developed from very different motivations. A Coahuila hacendado, Francisco Madero was a member of Mexicos elite. His goal to reform Diazs government stemmed from his belief that the current political order would eventually lead to social revolution. However, he also maintained that the democracy must be controlled by an elite, and that the ignorant publicshould take no part in determining who should be the candidate for public office. (Haynes 273). Emiliano Zapata was a mestizo landowner who gave his support to Madero with the hope that the land stolen from his people by the Porfirista aristocracy would be returned. Indigenous rights and agrarian reform became Zapatas driving forces, and when Maderos promises of reform were unfulfilled, he took the reform into his own hands. In regards to the delegation of power, Maderos Plan stated that until an election can be held, he would serve as provisional President. He will then bestow power upon other provisional authorities and provisional Governors thus providing no direct evidence that the peop...
