MAIN LIFE
What was your origin and where were you from?
I grew up in san pablo.
What was your greatest achievement?
My greatest contribution was the consolidation of the Mexican national state and the defense of its sovereignty.
How did you change the world?
being president of Mexico.
What was your origin and where were you from?
I was born into an indigenous Zapotec family in San Pablo Guelatao, Oaxaca.
What conflict was occurring in Mexico at the beginning of your presidency?
While he was president, Mexico was in the midst of the Reform War (1857-1861), a conflict between liberals and conservatives.
When and where were you born?
What small achievements did you make?
I made the Reform Laws, French Intervention, Education: Implemented free and secular education.
How are you currently honored?
I am honored
with statues in my honor.
Were you the shortest president in the world?
On average, I was 1.37 meters tall, making me the shortest president in the world. However, some historians, such as Alejandro Rosas, claim that I was actually between 1.55 and 1.60 meters tall.
What foreign event impacted Mexico during your government?
During my presidency, the French Intervention (1862-1867) occurred, where France invaded the country and established the Second Mexican Empire with Maximilian of Habsburg as emperor.
What was your family like?
My family died when I was very young.
How long were you president?
I was president of Mexico for fourteen years, from 1858 until my death in 1872.
Why do you deserve to be in the Cedros Living Museum?
For having been a very important Mexican president.
What is the origin of your most famous phrase, "Respect for the rights of others is peace"?
Although it is popularly attributed to me, the phrase was a reflection based on the philosophy of Immanuel Kant in his essay "Perpetual Peace." I popularized it during my presidency.
What happened after the French Intervention?
After Maximilian's defeat, he returned to the presidency in 1867. This event is known as the Restoration of the Republic.
What difficulties did you have?
I had a great challenge, which was to start as an orphan, having a very humble origin.
What year were you born and in what town were you born?
I was born in Oaxaca.
What institutions or awards bear your name?
I have currently 63 awards.
What did you study?
I was the first graduate of the Institute of Sciences and Arts, where I graduated as a lawyer in 1834.
What social and political reforms were carried out during your term?
My government implemented the Reform Laws, which established the separation of Church and State, and promoted free, secular education.
Did you have children?
I had 12 children.
What political changes did you implement in Mexico?
The separation of church and state, the abolition of the death penalty, the promotion of free, secular education, and agrarian reform to guarantee land ownership to peasants.
Are you remembered in more than one country?
Yes, like a great Mexican president.
Did you hold any other positions before becoming president?
Yes, throughout my career I held several positions, including trial judge, federal deputy, and governor of Oaxaca.
What changes have occurred in the country's infrastructure under your presidency?
The modernization of Mexico was promoted, with the construction of railroads and telegraph lines to connect the different regions of the country.