In a remote Sapfromec village in the mountains of Oaxaca, more than 220 years ago, a man was born who would eventually find himself at the center of Mexican history. We are talking about Benito Juáreze — president, who is considered to be the architect of the modern Mexican state.
By the time he came to power, Mexico was a country with an extremely weak institutional base. Behind — a series of internal conflicts, instability and heavy losses after the wars with Texas and the United States. The state existed formally, but in reality it remained fragmented and vulnerable. It was Juárez and his circle that played a key role in the modernization of the state and actually created the Mexican state in the modern sense.
At the same time, the figure of Juárez has never been clear. Despite his status as the first indigenous president, he remains the subject of controversy to this day. Some of the criticism stems from his reforms, most notably the strict separation of church and state — a painful step for a state with a deeply rooted Catholic tradition. Another part of the claims concerns his personal management style: he is credited with the desire to retain power at any cost, and also points to his affiliation with Freemasonry.
Benito Pablo Juárez García was born on March 21, 1806 in the village of San Pablo Guelatao, during the period of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. He was orphaned early and was raised by relatives. His native language was Sapfromek, and he began to learn Spanish as a child — priority because he understood: without education it is impossible to get out of poverty.
Later he moved to the city of Oaxaca, where his life changed. At first he found himself under the patronage of the Genoese Antonio Mas, who subsequently married his daughter Margarita, and then — from bookbinder Antonio Salanueva, who gave him the option to study and work. As a result, Juárez received a law degree and became a law teacher. According to the memoirs of his contemporaries, he was an exceptionally diligent and capable student.
Then his career developed rapidly: deputy, governor of Oaxaca, minister of justice, chairman of the Supreme Court and, finally, president. Along this entire path, he developed as a convinced liberal and gradually became a key figure in the large-scale transformations of the state.
One of his most famous phrases — «Respect for the rights of others — this is the world» — is still perceived as the quintessence of his political philosophy.
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It is interesting that, despite his origin, the issue of racial discrimination does not occupy a central place in his biography. According to Gonzalez, there is no convincing historical evidence that Juárez faced systemic discrimination specifically as an indigenous person. In his memoirs, he rather emphasized social inequality: the difference between poor and rich, rather than between ethnic groups. Even details such as his small stature — about 1.40 m — Don’t become an obstacle for him in his political career.
However, his management style remains a matter of debate. One of the most controversial episodes dates back to 1847, when, as governor, he upheld a court decision against residents of the city of Juchitan who protested over control of a salt mine. Juárez was accused of harshly suppressing protests, including setting houses on fire. He himself insisted that he was acting as a lawyer: the law should apply equally to everyone, regardless of origin. At the same time, some researchers, including Jesus Velasco, consider his style of government to be quite authoritarian.
The key stage of his political activity were the reforms of the 1850s. At this time, the influence of the Catholic Church in Mexico was enormous: it controlled education, civil registration, a significant part of the economy (mining and land use), and even elements of justice. In fact, the church positioned itself as a force parallel to political power. Juárez's liberal reforms changed this system. The principles of separation of church and state, freedom of religion, nationalization of church property were constitutionally enshrined, and civil courts and registries were created.
These changes provoked serious resistance from the conservative wing of the country and social discontent from part of the population who believed that religion was under attack. The result was an armed conflict — Reform war. In the context of the war, Juárez had to govern the country with virtually no stable military support.
It was then that one of the most controversial papers was signed — McClane Treaty — Ocampo. It provided for the United States to be granted transit rights through the Isthmus of Tehuantepec (a strategically important area between the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico at a time when the Panama Canal did not yet exist) in exchange for support from the Liberal government. In turn, Juárez sought US military support to resist the conservative attempt to restore the monarchy in Mexico. For critics, the signing of the agreement was proof of Juárez's willingness to make serious concessions in order to maintain power. However, the treaty was never ratified by the American Congress and did not enter into force.
The situation became even more complicated with the beginning of the French intervention. On May 5, 1862, the famous Battle of Puebla took place, which became a symbol of resistance in which the Mexican army defeated some of the most powerful European troops. But in the end, the Second Mexican Empire was established in the country, led by the Austrian Archduke, who was supported by the French Emperor Napoleon III, Mexican conservatives and the Vatican. Despite this, Juárez has not lost political legitimacy. His government continued to operate, «roaming» around the country.
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In 1867 the republic was restored. This moment became a turning point not only for Mexico, but for all of Latin America: a civilian leader without military experience managed to resist external interference and preserve statehood. It is for this reason that in a number of countries in the region he is still perceived as a symbol of resistance and is called the “Benefactor of America.”
Separately, it is worth mentioning his connection with Freemasonry. Juárez had indeed been a member of the Masonic lodge since 1847 and had achieved a high degree in it. However, in the 19th century such organizations performed rather the function of political clubs — places where ideas were discussed and groups of supporters were formed. His affiliation with Freemasonry was part of a specific period in his life and did not have a decisive influence on his political decisions.
After the restoration of the Republic, Juárez returned to govern the country from Mexico City and remained president until his death on July 18, 1872. He won the 1868 elections and continued to pursue a policy of strengthening government institutions, despite internal competition among liberals.
Today, most historians agree that it was this period that was decisive for the formation of modern Mexico. Before Juárez, the state was influenced by power groups with very different interests. The institutional system created under Juárez proved to be stable and survived the political changes of subsequent decades.
Many of Juárez's actions can only be understood in the context of his time. He was not a perfect politician and made mistakes. But in strategic terms, his contribution is difficult to overestimate: it was with him that Mexico finally took shape as a sovereign national state. And this result, despite all the criticism, remains his main historical legacy.