Definition
Benito Juárez was the 26th president of Mexico, from 1858 to 1872. He was an attorney and politician who worked to increase the standard of living for the poor and fellow Indians. He is also known for reducing the power of the Catholic Church in Mexico.
Biography
Benito Juárez (1806–1872), despite exile from 19 Mexico, became the first Native to serve as the 20 president of Mexico (Burke 1894; Weeks 1987). He was a champion for the poor and fellow Indians, increasing the standard of living and improving access to health care and education while also reducing the power of the Catholic Church in Mexico. His legacy remains through both his name and birth date (21 de Marzo) on buildings, parks, and streets (as well as the city Ciudad Juárez) all over Mexico more than 200 years after his birth.
Juárez came from humble beginnings, the child of Zapoteco Indian parents who died from diabetes complications when he was only three. His uncle raised him, and he worked in the fields...
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References
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Cantone, J.A., Delgado, R.H. (2018). Juárez, Benito. In: Gooren, H. (eds) Encyclopedia of Latin American Religions. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08956-0_521-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08956-0_521-1
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