8/11/2019 Benito Juarez Bio

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SUMMARY: Benito Juarez is considered one of Mexicos greates t and mos t

beloved leaders. During his political career he helped to institute a series of

liberal reforms that were embodied into the new constitution of 1857. During

the French occupation of Mexico J uarez r efus ed to acc ept the r ul e of the

Monarchy or any other foreign nation and hel ped to establi sh Mex ic o as a

constitutional democracy. He also promoted equal rights for the Indian

population better access to health care and education lessening the political

and financial power ofthe Roman Catholi c c hurc h and championed the

raising of the living standards for the rural poor.

April after i tbecame c lear that F ranc e had c onques t i nmi nd. The French

troops fought for two years and although suffering a s er ious defeat on 5th

May 1862 eventually c aptured Mex ic o City i nJ une 1863 and placed

Archduke Maximilian of Austria on the Mexican throne.

Benito J uarez was bor n Mar ch 21s t 1806 the child of Zapoteco Indians. After

they died when hewas thr ee hewent to l iv ewi th his unc le but when hewas

12 hej oi ned his s is ter i n Oax ac a. He began studying for the priesthood but i n

1829 c hanged to s tudy ing for a l aw degree whi ch he r ec ei ved i n 1831. That

year he also began his political career with a s eat onthe munic ipal c ounc il . In

1841 he became a judge and the governor of Oaxaca.

In 1853 the conservatives took power in

Mexico and many liberals were exiled

including Juarez who spent his time of exile

in New Orleans. In 1855the l iber al s won the

election and Benito Juarez returned from

his exil e as the Minis ter of J us ti ce. In 1857

. hewas elevated to presi de over the

. supreme court in effect making him the Vice

President. In 1858 the conservatives

rebelled and again J uarez had to l eave

Mexico City thi s time fleeing to Veracruz

where he c reated a gov er nment i n exi le.

Benito J uarez and the gov er nment of Mex ic o wer e for ced to r etreat right back

to Ciudad Juarez on the bor der with the USA. After four y ears with growing

pressure from America continuing resistance from Mexicans and criticism

from the French government and people finally the Napoleonic forces

withdrew. Maximilian himself was captured and executed on 19th June 1867.

Juarez returned to Mexic o c ity and the presidency even after suffering a

stroke inOctober 1870 a nd th e lo ss of h is w if e in 1 871. Hewon the

presidential election in 1871 but died on 18th J ul y 1872 of a heart attac k.

In January 1861 the conservatives lost

power and Benito Juarez became the

President of Mexico. As the treasury was

practically empty Juarez made the decision to suspend payment on all foreign

debts for a two y ear per iod. After Mexican congress rejected an agreement

J uarez had made with the Bri ti sh Pri me Minis ter to protect the i nter es ts of

European countries Spanish British and French troops landed inVera Cruz.

Spain and Britain were there to protect their financial interests and l eft i n