Juárez, Benito Pablo, << HWAHR ehz, bay NEE toh PAH bloh >> (1806-1872), was one of the greatest Mexican political leaders. He began far-reaching economic and political reforms. Juárez also directed Mexican liberals in a civil war against conservatives and later led his country in a war for freedom from French control.
Juárez, a Zapotec Indian, was born on March 21, 1806. He was educated in the state of Oaxaca and practiced law there from 1834 to 1846. In 1847, he was elected governor and made Oaxaca a model state. Juárez joined the liberal movement, which sought constitutional government, reduction of military and clerical power, and redistribution of the church’s huge landholdings. The dictator Santa Anna exiled him in 1853 (see Santa Anna, Antonio López de ).
In 1855, Juárez returned to Mexico and became minister of justice. He had the famous Juárez Law enacted. This law reduced the power of the army and the clergy. Juárez led the liberals as their provisional president in a civil war against the conservatives and clergy known as the War of the Reform (1858-1860). When the liberals won, he was elected president of Mexico in 1861.
Juárez found the government in serious financial difficulty, and stopped payment on European loans for two years. The French used his action as an excuse to invade Mexico and install Archduke Maximilian as emperor. Juárez directed the war for freedom. In 1866, the United States virtually ordered the French out of Mexico. The French troops withdrew in 1866 and early 1867. Juárez’s forces captured and executed Maximilian.
Juárez again became president in 1867. He separated church and state, established religious toleration, and altered the land system. In 1871, Juárez again ran for the presidency. No candidate received a clear majority at the polls. The Mexican congress decided the issue by electing Juárez. He died on July 18, 1872.
See also Maximilian ; Mexico (Reform) (The French invasion) .
