Benito Juarez Tells His Story as the First Indigenious President of Mexico and He Who Saved Mexico

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My name is Benito Juárez, and I was the first Indigenous president of Mexico. I spent my life fighting for justice, democracy, and the rights of my people. I led my country through war, foreign invasion, and political turmoil, but I never gave up. Let me tell you my story.

I was born on March 21, 1806, in a small village called San Pablo Guelatao, Oaxaca. My family was poor, and we were Zapotec Indigenous people. When I was just three years old, my parents died, and my grandparents raised me. I worked as a shepherd, and because I didn’t speak Spanish—only Zapotec—many people didn’t think I had a future.

But I wanted to learn. At age 12, I left my village and walked to Oaxaca City, hoping for a better life. A kind man named Antonio Salanueva took me in and helped me get an education. I studied law and became a lawyer, defending poor and Indigenous people who had been treated unfairly for generations.

As I grew older, I became involved in politics. I believed that Mexico should be a country for all people, not just the rich and powerful. I worked my way up to governor of Oaxaca, where I pushed for land reforms, education, and equal rights. But not everyone liked my ideas—especially the wealthy elite and the Catholic Church, which had too much power in politics.

In 1855, I helped lead the Reform War, a struggle to separate church and state and give more power to the people. We won, and I became President of Mexico in 1858. But just as we were rebuilding, Mexico was invaded—this time by the French, who wanted to make Mexico a monarchy under Emperor Maximilian I.

I refused to accept foreign rule. For five long years, I led a resistance against the French occupation. Many times, we were outnumbered and outgunned, but we never surrendered. With the help of allies like Porfirio Díaz, we defeated the French, executed Maximilian in 1867, and restored the Mexican Republic.

After that victory, I focused on modernizing Mexico—building schools, roads, and a fair legal system. I wanted every Mexican, no matter how poor, to have the opportunity to succeed. My motto was: “El respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz”—“Respect for the rights of others is peace.”

But not everyone agreed with my vision. Some wanted a return to dictatorship, and there were constant rebellions. In 1872, while still serving as president, I died of a heart attack. Though I didn’t live to see all of my dreams come true, I had helped lay the foundation for a stronger, more democratic Mexico.

If there’s one lesson I want you to take from my story, it’s this: No matter where you come from, no matter how poor you are, education and determination can change your life—and even change a nation. Thank you for listening.

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