In 1906, he attended a meeting in Cuautla, supporting the call for the defense of peasant owned land against Porfirian landowners.

On September 12th, 1909, he was elected President of the Defense Committee of the Lands of Anenecuilco. Zapata's insistence on land reform successfully made the voice of peasants heard. In a letter to Gildardo Magaña, Zapata wrote: "I am determined to fight against anything and anyone with nothing more than the confidence and support of my people".

Between 1910 and 1919, Zapata fiercely fought for land and freedom from foreign power, rigidly adhering to the Plan of Ayala. The Plan of Ayala was written to liberate Mexicans from foriegn rule. The plan called for the seizure of all foreign owned land, all land taken from villages, confiscation of one-third of all land held by "friendly" hacendados and full confiscation of land owned by persons opposed to the Plan of Ayala. (www.mexconnect.com)

When the Revolución broke out in 1910, Zapata supported the agrarian demands of the Plan of San Luis, joining forces led by Madero. After the victory of the Madero revolution, Zapata refused to lay down his arms until land distribution had taken place. He upheld this principle until the end of his life, causing conflict with those in power. Zapata questioned the success of Maderos revolution. Land distribution was not carried out as hacienda owners took advantage of the fact that the Porfirian army was still operating. Peasants still faced disarmament.. "I wish to die as a slave to principles, not to men", wrote Zapata in another of his letters. Zapata reorganized his army and seiged the towns of Yautepec, Cuautla and Cuernavaca.

Zapata and his followers turned against the governments of Madero, Victoriano Huerta and Venustiano Carranza. Zapata's army broke up the large estates and distributed land, confiscating sugar mills and a paper factory. The Zapatistas also founded an agrarian bank and developed primary schools for children and adults. Zapata and his forces reorganized the political operation of the municipalities, promoting traditional peasant organizations and forming vigilance committees.

Zapata's successful return of the land and control of it to the people was short lived. Madero's new government now focused on the dissolution of Zapata and his forces since Poncho Villa had been defeated in the north in 1915. Maderos forces turned against Zapata, nearly destroying the state of Morelos. On April 10, 1919, Zapata was tricked into a meeting with one of Carranza's generals who wanted to "switch sides." Zapata was ambushed and assassinated at hacienda Chinameca, the same location an assasination attempt on Zapata took place eight years ago. Although the Zapatista army was defeated, its principles of justice remain alive. In a letter to Pancho Villa, Zapata wrote: "...Ignorance and obscurantism (preventing people from obtaining knowledge) have never produced anything other than flocks of slaves for tyranny..." (www.mexconnect.com)