The Punitive Expedition

Zapata's not a politician. August 1914 - August 1915: Mexico's darkest hours. Multiple crazy rulers. Life was so bad, zapatistas were welcomed, and they helped the city. Zapata's mind was distracted, had 2 principles: support village leaders against professionals, and civilians have precedence over the military. Palafox wanted socialism to counter Zapata's communalism. 

July 11 ~ Gonzalez occupies Mexico City, pulls out a week later. Zapata sends men to attack Carranza's men in the North. Z thinks that Carranza is a 'short-lived phenomenon' like Huerta. 1916 starts, Carranza puts all of his energy into beating Zapata forever. Man, Pancheco, is a traitor to Zapata. Wilson recognizes Carranza's government in Mexico, recognizes his anti-Americanism. Villa is mad: "I take no responsibility for future events." He trains new forces, and sends them out in February to attack Columbus, 4 reasons guessed: personal revenge against Ravel, he was a 'pawn', he acted alone, or he expected war, and wanted to begin it already.

"The US wants to swallow Mexico; let's see if it doesn't get stuck in their throats."

Raid makes Wilson angry, doesn't want war with Mexico because it'd mess up his plans to intervene in Europe. March 10 ~ he orders General Pershing to take expedition. Pershing makes little headway. Villa has anti-gringo propaganda, and it is slowly working. Lopez (bad guy - Santa Ysabel killings) dies. He is brave in his death and becomes a martyr. 

Carranza realizes that the Americans want to stay a while. Villa, Wilson, and Carranza continue to butt heads. Eventually, Americans retreat. Wilson tries to avoid 'Germany's game', and not get sucked into Mexico's problem. He ignores Pershing's requests for help. Pershing only made Villa really mad once: P got town of Namiquipa, and had villagers cooperating. Carranza promised to return American POWs, refuses US-Mexico Commission. Americans will not give up quest for Villa; hire hitmen, assassins, poisoners. 

Zimmerman telegram: German foreign secretary Arthur Z. send a message to his guy in Mexico City, offers alliance. "If Carranza attacks USA, so Mexico keeps USA preoccupied/neutral, Germany will send money/military stuff." He also proposed an alliance with Germany/Mexico/Japan. The message gets passed on, Wilson declares war on Germany. Trevino gets control of Chihuahua, and then alienates Chihuahuans. Villa gets kudos, comes back to being awesome guerrilla leader.