This document provides brief biographies of major political leaders in Mexico since independence in 1824, including presidents, revolutionaries, and others who shaped Mexican politics and history. It describes their roles and accomplishments, such as fighting for independence from Spain, leading the Mexican Revolution, establishing democratic reforms and institutions, and negotiating international trade agreements. Major figures mentioned include Guadalupe Victoria, Benito Juárez, Porfirio Díaz, Francisco Madero, Venustiano Carranza, Lazaro Cardenas, Emiliano Zapata, Alvaro Obregon, Plutarco Elías Calles, Vicente Fox, Felipe Calderon, and Carlos Salinas de Gortari.

1. major Mexican political leaders since 1824 Yesenia Cruz

2. Political LeadersGuadalupe Victoria Born José Miguel Ramón AdauctoFernádez y Félix September 29, 1786 - March 21, 1843 Fought against Spain in the War of Independence First president of Mexico Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna Born Antonio de Padua MaríaSeverinoLópez de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón21 February 1794 - 21 June 1876 Originally fought against the Independence of Spain but then supported it Appointed by Guerrero as governor of the state of Yucatan in 1824 Benito JuárezMarch 21, 1806 - July 18, 1872 Served five terms as president of Mexico First full-blooded indigenous president without a military background Fought against the French occupation Brought back the Republic Advocated equal rights Lessened the power of the Roman Catholic Church in Mexico His period is known as La Reforma

3. Political LeadersPorfirioDíazSeptember 15, 1830 - July 2, 1915 President of Mexico from 1876 to 1911, except in 1880-84 Considered a dictator by historians Lost power during the Mexican Revolution Forced from office by Madero and fled to France Francisco I. Madero October 30, 1873 - February 22, 1913 President from 1911 to 1913 Founded the Benito Juárez Democratic Club Led the Anti-Reelection movement Created the Department of Labor and regulated business practices Vincente Guerrero Born Vincente Ramón Guerrero SaldañaAugust 10, 1782 - February 14, 1831 Fought against Spain in the War of Independence Served as president of Mexico for a short period in 1829 Executed by Vice President Bustamante for bribery Mexicans loyal to Guerrero revolted against Bustamante Victoriano Huerta December 22, 1850 - January 13, 1916 President of Mexico after he had Lascuráin assume Presidency then resign an hour later Began a strict military dictatorship President Woodrow Wilson put U.S. troops in Mexico to occupy Veracruz as a show of force Huerta’s Federal Army was defeated several times by Obregón and Pancho Villa’s, especially in the Battle of Zacatecas Resigned on July 15, 1914

4. Political Leaders VenustianCarranza December 29, 1859 - May 21, 1920 Born Venustiano Carranza de la Garza President of Mexico after Huerta resigned in 1914, president during the Zimmerman telegraph - kept Mexico neutral during WWI One of the leaders of the Mexican Revolution Declared the liberal 1857 Constitution of Mexico to be respected Parralby seven rifle men Death was the result of a conspiracy Lázardo Cárdenas May 21, 1985 - October 19, 1970 Born Lázaro Cárdenas del Río President of Mexico from 1934 - 1940 Wouldn’t be controlled by Former president Calles’ corruption Cut presidential salary in half Had corrupt associates thrown in jail and/or deported Revered by the Mexican people The end of Capital Punishment Respected for being fearless Francisco Pancho Villa June 5, 1878 - July 20, 1923 Born José DoroteoArangoArámbulaCommander of the División del Norte Governor of Chihuaha in 1913 - 1914 Robbed and hijacked trains to fund his cause Fought against Huerta Falling out with CarranaEventually betrayed by Americans when President Wilson backed Carranza to be the one to establish a stable government Involved in many battles Assassinated while running an errand in Manuel Á v ila Camacho 24 April, 1897 - 13 October, 1955 President of Mexico from 1940 to 1946 Renamed the PRM to the PRI Election day was skeptical with fraud Dealt with WWII Declared war against Axis powers after Mexican oil ships were destroyed by German U-boats Gave U.S. 300,000 workers during the Bracero Program Diplomacy with the UK and Soviets Signed the United Nations Charter

5. Political LeaderEmiliano Zapata August 8, 1879 - April 10, 1919 Born Emiliano Zapata Salazar Poster-boy for the Mexican Revolution against PorfirioDíazCame from a Mestizo family Díaz’s land reforms went into haciendas which invaded peoples lands Spoke with people about defending their land Fought for the rights of the campesinos of Morelos Oversaw the redistribution of land from some haciendas and landowners but problems emerged Fought for the rights of villagers Allied with Francisco I. Madero Became a general of an army in Morelos: the EjércitoLibertador del Sur Jumped on Madero’s campaign against President DíazZapata and Madero had a falling out Became the Supreme Chief of the Revolutionary Movement of the South Assassinated by hit-men for Guajardo Maximilian I of Mexico 6 July 1832 - 19 June 1867 Proclaimed Emperor of Mexico during the Second Mexican Empire after being proposed the title by Mexican monarchists and with pressure from Napoleon III Captured and sentenced to death by firing squad Believed he died for the good of Mexico

6. Political LeaderÁlvaro ObregónBorn Álvaro ObregónSalidoaFebruary 19, 1880 - July 17, 1928 President of Mexico from 1920 to 1924 Assassinated in 1928 Minister of War in Preconstitutional Regime of Carranza Modernized and refurbished the Mexican military PRI party Nationalized electric companies In 1959 he began the National Commission for Free Textbooks Promoted museums like the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City and the Museum of Natural History Carried out Land reform Public health campaigns to fight against polio, malaria, and T.B. Fought against poverty and set up social-welfare programs and improved existing ones Increased the pensions for health care Developed a food distribution system for the poor Created a market for farm produce Low-cost housing budget program in industrial cities Adolfo LópezMateosPlutarcoCalles September 25, 1877 - October 19, 1945 Born PlutarcoElías Calles President of Mexico from 1924 to 1928 Ruled behind the scenes for two more presidencies Began the Cristero War against the Catholic rebels Founded the PNR (now PRI) Supported by labor and peasant unions Laborist party and CROM support Changed civil code by giving illegitimate youth the same rights as legitimate ones He was the child of unmarried parents Drafted new oil laws which enforced Article 27 of the Mexican constitution

7. Political LeadersErnesto Zedillo Born December 27, 1951 Born Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de León President of Mexico from 1994 to 2000 The last president from the National Revolutionary Party to the PRI Supported macroeconomic policies Launched a Science and Technology reformation Entered the Presidency at the beginning of an economic crisis “ Well-being for your family” Created the Progresa program Currently works at Yale University in the U.S. and teaches economics Vicente Fox Born July 2, 1942 Born Vicente Fox Quesada President of Mexico from 2000 to 2006 Excellent public speaker Told Castro in Cuba to watch his mouth and Castro called him “despicable and treacherous” Angered many African-Americans with something he said Wrote an autobiography titled, Revolution of Hope: The Life, Faith and Dreams of a Mexican President Felipe Calder on Born August 18, 1962 Born Felipe de JesúsCalderón Hinojosa Current President of Mexico, 2006 - Present Member of PAN Opposes euthanasia, unrestricted abortion, and gay marriage Will continue foreign policy Expected to mediate free market with other Latin American nations Opposed the U.S. building a border wall Ordered raids on drug cartels, raised public security officers wages, ordered military into major drug trafficking cities Carlos Salinas de GortariBorn April 3, 1948 President of Mexico from 1988 to 1994 PRI party Threatened the PRI who had won all previous elections through fraud since beginning in 1929 “ The system fell.” Suspicious voting computer shutdowns during election. Restored relationships with the Roman Catholic Church and Vatican State Changed land property legislation Negotiated the NAFTA with the U.S. and Canada