Obregón, Álvaro, << `oh` bray GAWN, AHL vah roh >> (1880-1928), served as president of Mexico from 1920 to 1924. He succeeded Venustiano Carranza as president after leading a revolt that resulted in Carranza’s death. As president, Obregón distributed land to Mexico’s peasants, built many schools, and supported a strong labor union movement. Obregón was reelected president in 1928, but he was assassinated before he could take office.
Obregón was born in Navojoa, in the Mexican state of Sonora, on Feb. 19, 1880. In 1912, he raised a force of Yaqui Indians and defended President Francisco Madero during a revolution. In 1913, Victoriano Huerta seized the presidency and Madero was murdered. The same year, Obregón joined Venustiano Carranza in a revolt against Huerta. In 1914, Obregón fought Mexican rebel General Pancho Villa to help Carranza become acting chief of Mexico. Obregón opposed Carranza later, after Carranza refused to support Obregón’s efforts to become president. Obregón died on July 17, 1928.
