Madero, Francisco Indalecio, << mah THAY roh, frahn SEES koh een dah LEH syoh >> (1873-1913), led the Mexican Revolution of 1910 and was president of Mexico from 1911 to 1913. He is called the “Apostle of Mexican Democracy.”
Madero was born on Oct. 30, 1873, into a wealthy family in the state of Coahuila. He opposed the Mexican dictator Porfirio Diaz and believed that democracy would solve the country’s economic problems. In 1910, Madero ran against Diaz in a presidential election. When Madero gained popular support, Diaz imprisoned him in San Luis Potosi. Madero fled to the United States after he was released on bail.
From San Antonio, Madero issued the Plan of San Luis Potosi, a call for armed struggle against Diaz’s government. In February 1911, Madero returned to Mexico. The revolutionaries soon forced Diaz to resign. In October of that year, Madero was elected president.
As president, Madero struggled to meet conflicting demands. Some people wanted social and economic reforms, but others wanted no change. In 1913, Madero was forced to resign. He was assassinated on Feb. 22, 1913, by forces opposed to the revolution.
See also Mexican Revolution of 1910 .
