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Written by Edwin Sanchez JuarezApril 14, 2025

Benito Juarez

Overview:

Benito Pablo Juárez García was born on March 21, 1806 in a town called San Pablo Guelatao, Oaxaca, Mexico. He was a Mexican politician, military commander, and lawyer who served as the 26th president of Mexico. As a Zapotec indigenous decent, he was the first Indigenous president of Mexico and the first democratically elected Indigenous president in postcolonial Americas. He was a member of the Liberal Party, and held various positions, including the governorship of Oaxaca and the presidency of the Supreme Court.

When I visited Oaxaca, I noticed that many neighborhoods and schools were named after a historical figures, and the most common name that was frequently heard was; Benito Juárez. Benito Pablo Juárez García was the 26th President of Mexico, serving from 1858 until his death in 1872, and he held office for a total of five terms. Besides being president, he was also a lawyer. Juárez began his formal education in 1821 at a church school in Oaxaca. Initially, he studied for the priesthood, but in 1829, he enrolled in the Oaxaca Institute of Arts and Sciences; now known as the Benito Juárez Autonomous University of Oaxaca, to study law and science. He graduated in 1831 with a law degree.

Juárez grew up in poverty, which made it difficult for him to have access to an education. He primarily spoke Zapotec in his early years until he started school at the age of 12, where he learned Spanish, and which later became his main language. In addition to Zapotec and Spanish, he also learned to read and write in Latin, French, and English, which gave him better qualifications.

Juárez is best known for his efforts to modernize Mexico and promote liberal reforms, such as the separation of church and state, land reforms, and the establishment of civil rights. His leadership during the Reform War (1857-1861) and the French intervention in Mexico (1861-1867) made him a symbol of resistance against foreign intervention and imperialism.

His presidency is characterized by his dedication to democracy and the rule of law, and he is often celebrated as a national hero in Mexico. His legacy continues to have a significant impact on Mexican politics and society today.