Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1857
(The first Mexican liberal Constitution that established i...)
The first Mexican liberal Constitution that established individual rights, such as freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. It also eliminated all cruel punishments, such as death penalty.
Benito Juarez was a famous Mexican politician known for many liberal reforms that helped Mexico transform fron a neocolonialist to a modern, democratic country. He was the President of Mexico between 1861 and 1872. Juarez battled against French occupation for three years (1964-67) and finally managed to keep Mexico independent. Because of this, he is considered to be a national hero.
Background
Benito Juárez was born in San Pablo Guelatao, a small mountain village in Oaxaca, Mexico. His father, Marcelino Juárez, and his mother, Brigida Garcia, were both Zapotec peasants. Both his parents died when he was only three, so he went to live with his uncle. Benito described his parents as "the Indians of the original race of Mexico". He spent his early childhood years as a shepherd and working in the cornfields, so the future for little Benito didn't seem too bright at the time.
Education
Juárez had been dreaming much bigger than being a shepherd, so one day in December in 1818 he decided to leave his uncle and pursue his education. He walked to the Oaxaca City, where his sister was working as a cook for Antonio Maza. She took him in and he started working as a domestic servant. His thirst for knowledge didn’t go unnoticed by Maza, who decided to help him with education.
Maza secured him a place with the Oaxaca City’s seminary, so Juárez started studying priesthood, which he graduated in 1827. That didn’t fulfill him, so in 1829 he decided to get in the Oaxaca Institute of Arts and Sciences (which is today known as Benito Juárez Autonomous Oaxaca University) to study science and law. He graduated law in 1831, which granted him a seat on the municipal council.
Soon after getting his law degree and attaining a seat on the municipal council, Juárez became an active politician. Ever since his beginning in politics, he was modest and never used his position for any kind of personal gain. It didn’t take much time for him to show how successful of a politician he was, he became a member of both the national and state legislature. In 1841, he got the position of a judge and six years later, he became the Governor of the state of Oaxaca. During his tenure, he supported his country in the Mexican War against Americans but when he realized that the defeat is unavoidable, he refused the request of the current national leader Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna to raise new forces. Because of this he was exiled in 1853. He spent two years in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he was working in a cigar factory and planning on his return.
Once Santa Anna resigned in 1855, it was safe for Juárez to return to his home country. A new government was formed by liberals, led by Ignacio Comonfort as President of Mexico. Juárez was picked as the President of the Supreme Court of Justice. When the conservatives launched a revolt in 1857, General Felix Maria Zuloaga was proclaimed President after Comonfort was forced to resign. However, the Constitution of 1857 that liberals proclaimed predicted that the President of the Supreme Court was to be considered President in the the case of resignation. This is how Juárez was acknowledged as the country’s leader by the liberals of Mexico.
However, Zuloaga had greater military power so Juárez and his people had to leave Mexico City. They used the support of the minority of state governments and the US President James Buchanan. The Americans provided the needed help to launch a counterattack, recapture Mexico City in 1861 and win the civil war.
Although Juárez was elected president in accordance with the Constitution in 1861, he had to deal with numerous problems. Conservatives were eager for a counterblow, and the treasury was practically empty. This is why Juárez suspended paying all debts to foreign countries for two years, but this only lead to an intervention from Spain, England, and France in order to protect their investments. It seems that Napoleon was most annoyed by that decision since his intention was to conquer Mexico, which led to Spain and England withdrawing from its territory.
Archduke Maximilian of Austria was the Napoleon III’s puppet in Mexico. The domestic army fought hard but the conquerors took Mexico City in 1863, making Juárez flee once again. They were retreating all the way to the border and managed to prolong the resistance for years. Napoleon was receiving serious criticism at home for his actions in Mexico so he decided to withdraw his troops in 1867. Shortly after that, Juárez and his army regained control and executed Maximilian.
Juárez called for elections in 1867 knowing that he had the support of the majority of states. However, he also called for a referendum for changes to the Constitution, which was received terribly, causing a violent reaction. Juárez was elected again and the amendments also passed, but the price was that his rating significantly dropped.
In 1870, Juárez suffered a stroke, a year later he lost his wife but still decided to run again. He won the election once again but it was claimed that the voting was rigged so Mexico was taken to a civil war again. Juárez gave the last few months of his life to an attempt to restore peace, but a heart attack in 1872 stopped him for making this happen.
(The first Mexican liberal Constitution that established i...)
1857
Religion
Although he was baptized Roman Catholic, he wasn’t exactly inclined towards church and religion. He was looking for ways to decrease ecclesiastical power in Mexico. This is why he decided to nationalize all property church had in its possession except the actual buildings used for worshipping. During his reign, the government guaranteed liberty to all citizens when it comes to religion.
Politics
Ever since taking up the career in politics, Benito Juarez was thinking about possible reforms that would help modernize his country and encourage democracy. The biggest change was installed in 1857, when the liberals in Mexico promulgated their federalist Constitution. The period of Juarez leadership of Mexico is known as La Reforma (The Reform).
Views
Juárez's liberal ideas are what freed Mexico from the remainders of neocolonialism int he late 19th century. The fact that he was a brilliant politician enabled him to transform his ideas into a reality. Juarez always kept in mind what is best for his country and understood that implementing democracy and capitalism are the right way to go. Unfortunately, he battled with much resistance from conservatives throughout his life and was unable to create a stable enough system to hold on without him.
He had a strong love for his country and didn't want to give up even when his troops were practically destroyed by the French conquerors in the 1860s. Although he was offered to surrender and get high position in the new Mexican Empire, he saw through the intention of Maximilian I and refused his proposal to make peace. This turned out to be one of the key moves to keep Mexico and independent country. Juarez and his troops endured attacks for years and finally defeated the conquerors. Mexicans are now celebrating him as a national hero.
Quotations:
"Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace."
"there is one thing that cannot be influenced either by falsification or betrayal, namely the tremendous verdict of history. It is she who will judge us"
Personality
Benito Juarez was devoted to his career in politics and his primary motivation was to do good for his country. Juarez never used his position for any kind of personal gain. He was a very persistent person thirsty for knowledge, which was best illustrated that he walked from his village to the Oaxaca Ciry to get an opportunity for education.
Physical Characteristics:
Being a Zapotec Indian by origin, Juarez was of medium height and had dark hair and eyes. His short hair in combination with the way of dressing went well with his position of President of Mexico and only helped his reputation.
Quotes from others about the person
"Juárez is the upright statesman that makes a clear contrast with one too many traitors and betrayers; the man of good faith that chooses misery and death to shame, because the word "duty" is more flattering to him than the insignia of Great Marshall; he is the genius that will scare away, no question about it, the horrifying tempest that has blown so recently upon the New World; he is, gentlemen, Senators, the one that is being proposed that you honor through a decree. I would not believe there is a single Colombian Senator that would not want to hurry to support, through his vote, the consacration of such an act, than would honor more us than the immortal Juarez." - Alejo Morales, Colombian citizen, letter to the Colombian Senate to help proclaim Benito Juarez as "the meritorious one of the Americas", 1865
Interests
Law
Politicians
James Buchanan
Connections
He married a 17-year-old Margarita Maza in 1843, when he was 37 years old. Aside from the fact that his spouse was 20 years younger than him, she was also daughter of Antonio Maza, the guy he and his sister used to work for.
Benito Juarez | president of Mexico | Britannica.com
National hero and president of Mexico (1861–72), who for three years (1864–67) fought against foreign occupation under the emperor Maximilian and who sought constitutional reforms...