Benito Juarez

Bentio Juarez (1806 - 1872), national hero of Mexico, he was president from 1861 to 1872. Juarez was born in San Pablo de Guelatao, in the southern state of Oaxaca, México on March 21, 1806. He was one of the very few Native Americans ever to become president. Juarez was a Zapotec Indian educated as a middle-class liberal often regarded as Mexico's greatest leader.

On 1847 he became governor of Oaxaca and on 1857 became the Minister of Justice. During the period known as Mexican Reform laws sponsored by the Liberal Party curtailed the power of the Roman Catholic church and the military. Juarez on 1855 decreed the Laws of Reform, which separated church and government.

Juárez led the Mexican opposition to the French intervention (2nd Mexican Empire) from 1862 to 1867. When Civil War was over, the United States invoked the Monroe Doctrine to give diplomatic recognition to Juarez' government and supply weapons and funding to the Republicanist forces. On 1867 Emperor's forces were defeated and Archduke Maximilian was sentenced to death (June 19) and executed at the Cerro de las Campanas, Queretaro.

Juarez died while in office on July 18, 1872, in Mexico City.

See also

Porfirio Diaz

External links

• Mexican No. 1
• MEXICO'S LINCOLN