An Autobiography of Benito Juarez,

researched and translated to English by Emisael Ruiz

Remained orphan to the 4 years and was taken care of by an uncle that a flock of sheep began to take care of it. When it had more or less 12 years, fled fearful by the punishment that its uncle was going to give it upon giving account that one of the sheep had been lost. Thus it arrived at the city of Oaxaca, without knowing to read, to write or to speak Spanish.

In Oaxaca found his sister Josefa, who worked serving the family of Antonio Maza, adopted father of the one that later would be his wife, Margarita Maza and received the protection of Antonio Salanueva, who taught to read and to write and desired that Ju‡rez was priest.

Entered to the Seminar of the Holy Cross and later in the Institute of Sciences and Arts where himself regular as lawyer.

It defended the rights of the native communities and initiated its political career as manager of the City Hall of Oaxaca, teacher went, federal and local representative, judge of the civil thing and in 1847, governor of Oaxaca. It belonged to the group of liberals that intended to do modifications to the Political Constitution and to devise laws above all focused

to achieve the autonomy and sovereignty of Mexico, matter with the which the conservatives did not be very in agreement. During the government of Holy Anna was imprisoned and deported to New Orle‡ns, where, performed diverse positions to be earn a living, while in Mexico the Plan was proclaimed of Ayutla that did not know to Holy Anna as president. In its place was named Juan çlvarez, who appointed to Benito Ju‡rez as Minister of Justice and Public Instruction. Ju‡rez devised the Law Ju‡rez, that removed the soldiers and to the clergy (church) several of the privileges that had. It was reelecto as governing of Oaxaca and promulgated the Constitution of 1857.

It was minister of Government and subsequently, president of the Most supreme Cut of Justice, during the government of the president Comonfort, who did not know the Constitution of 1857 and imprisoned diverse citizens, among them Ju‡rez, what unchained the War of Reform.