Benito Juárez was a Mexican statesman of indigenous Zapotec origin who served as president of Mexico on several occasions between 1858 and 1872. A leading figure of liberalism, he carried out major secular reforms and resisted the French intervention and the Empire of Maximilian.
Benito Juárez(1806 — 1872)
Benito Juárez
Mexique
5 min read
Frequently asked questions
Famous Quotes
« Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace.»
Key Facts
- Born in 1806 in Oaxaca into an indigenous Zapotec family, he became a lawyer and then governor of the state of Oaxaca
- Enacted the Reform Laws (Ley Juárez, 1855), limiting the privileges of the clergy and the army
- President of Mexico from 1858, during the Reform War between liberals and conservatives
- Resisted the French intervention (1862-1867) and the Empire of Maximilian, whom he had executed by firing squad in 1867
- Re-elected president, he died in office in 1872 in Mexico City
Works & Achievements
Abolished the special courts of the clergy and the army, establishing the principle of equality before the law.
Juárez defended and enforced the liberal Constitution, the legal foundation of modern Mexico.
Separated Church and State, nationalized the property of the clergy, and established secular civil registration.
Maintained an itinerant republican government and organized the struggle against the army of Napoleon III.
Restored republican order after the fall of Maximilian's Empire, a victory for national sovereignty.
Developed secular and free education and reorganized the administration of the State.
Anecdotes
Benito Juárez was born in a Zapotec village in the state of Oaxaca and spoke only Zapotec until the age of 12. Orphaned very young, he tended sheep before walking to the city to learn Spanish and pursue an education: he became a lawyer and then president, an exceptional journey for an Indigenous man in 19th-century Mexico.
In 1864, Emperor Maximilian, placed on the Mexican throne by Napoleon III, wrote to Juárez offering him a position as a minister, hoping to win him over. Juárez refused with a now-famous statement about the right of peoples to govern themselves, and continued the republican resistance.
When the French army advanced, Juárez never surrendered: he moved his government from town to town across the country, carrying the archives of the Republic in a black carriage. His traveling government was nicknamed “the Republic on wheels.”
After Maximilian's capture in 1867, many European sovereigns (and Victor Hugo wrote a letter) begged Juárez to spare the emperor. Juárez upheld the death sentence, wanting to show that no foreign power could impose a monarch on Mexico. Maximilian was executed by firing squad at the Cerro de las Campanas, in Querétaro.
Juárez has remained a national symbol: his phrase “Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace” is etched into Mexican memory. His birthday is a national holiday in Mexico.
Primary Sources
Abolition of the special ecclesiastical and military courts for civil matters, establishing the equality of all citizens before the law.
The constitutional government asserts its legitimacy against the conservative coup d'état and calls on Mexicans to defend the Reform Laws.
Nationalization of the clergy's property, separation of Church and State, and the institution of secular marriage and civil registry.
“Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace.”
Key Places
Zapotec mountain village where Juárez was born in 1806 and spent his childhood as a shepherd.
City where Juárez studied, became a lawyer and then governor of the state; today it bears his name.
Port from which Juárez led the liberal government during the Reform War and promulgated the Reform Laws.
Capital where Juárez held the presidency, restored the Republic in 1867 and died in 1872.
Site of the capture and then execution of Emperor Maximilian in 1867, marking the end of the French intervention.
Northern border city where Juárez took refuge with his roving government in the face of the French advance; it now bears his name.
Typical Objects
Founding liberal text that Juárez defended his entire life, guaranteeing individual liberties and limiting the privileges of the Church and the army.
Juárez always wore dark civilian dress, never a military uniform, to symbolize civil and constitutional power in the face of generals and monarchs.
Horse-drawn coach in which Juárez carried the archives and the seal of the Republic across the country during the French intervention.
Official stamp used to authenticate decrees; Juárez kept it with him at all times to embody the continuity of the legitimate State.
Set of laws nationalizing the clergy's property and establishing secular civil registration, the foundation of the modern Mexican State.
Work tools of Juárez, trained in law; he drafted laws, manifestos, and government correspondence.
School Curriculum
Vocabulary & Tags
Key Vocabulary
Tags
Daily Life
Morning
An early riser and methodical man, Juárez began his day reading reports and official correspondence. A lawyer by training, he placed great importance on studying files and laws before making any decision.
Afternoon
His afternoons were devoted to hearings, cabinet meetings, and the drafting of decrees. In wartime, this also meant organizing the government's movements and coordinating the resistance.
Evening
In the evening, Juárez continued his correspondence and read a great deal. A sober and reserved man, he avoided pomp and preferred quiet work to high society.
Food
His diet was simple and frugal, based on corn (tortillas), beans, and traditional Mexican dishes. Of humble origins, Juárez kept his unpretentious habits even during his presidency.
Clothing
He invariably wore the black frock coat, white shirt, and top hat of the 19th-century civilian. This austere attire affirmed the primacy of civil power over military and religious power.
Housing
Depending on the period, he lived in modest houses in Oaxaca, in the National Palace in Mexico City, or in makeshift lodgings during his itinerant government across the country.
Historical Timeline
Period Vocabulary
Liens externes & ressources
Références
Œuvres
Loi Juárez (Ley Juárez)
1855
Soutien à la Constitution de 1857
1857
Lois de Réforme
1859-1860
Direction de la résistance contre l'intervention française
1862-1867
Restauration de la République
1867
Réformes de l'instruction publique
1867-1872
