preview

Good Man Gone Wrong, By Fred Boalt: An Analysis

Better Essays

The relationship between the United States and Pancho Villa played a major role in the history of Mexico. Both parties were involved in the Mexican Revolution, which lasted from 1910-1920, and the relationship they had with one another significantly altered the course of the revolution. On March 13, 1916, Fred Boalt wrote an article for the Tacoma Times newspaper, entitled Good Man Gone Wrong, describing some details of the Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa and the relationship he had with the United States. Boalt argues that the shift of relationship between the United States and Villa ultimately led to Villa becoming a “Good Man Gone Wrong.” In a sense, Boalt tries to give a sympathetic view of Villa, by attributing his change in attitude to the United States severing ties with him. The author of the article is writing from an American point of view, so national biases can be a factor in his analysis of the US-Villa relationship. In this paper, I will seek to answer the following questions: What kind of relationship did the United States have with Pancho Villa, and how did this impact the Mexican Revolution? To properly understand the relationship …show more content…

He describes some details of Villa’s upbringing and the life he lived before being an active revolutionary. He had a simple life as a farmer and did not come from a lot of money. However, he had lofty ideas of caring for the poor and needy long before he ever became a leader in the revolution. The author describes him as wanting to see lower-class Mexicans advancing in good jobs and sending their kids to schools so they will not be illiterate. Boalt’s article is a primary source that tells a lot about the relationship between the United States and Pancho Villa and the impact their actions had on the Mexican

Get Access