Francisco Madero
The democrat who called for the overthrow of Díaz, was elected president and was killed in a coup.
Life
Son of a hacienda owner
Madero came from a wealthy landowning family in the northern state of Coahuila. He had studied in France and the United States and believed in democracy and spiritualism. In 1908 he published The Presidential Succession in 1910, calling for "Effective suffrage, no reelection."
Effective suffrage, no reelection
In 1910 he ran against Díaz for president and was arrested and imprisoned. After his release he fled to the United States and issued the Plan of San Luis Potosí, calling for an armed uprising on November 20. Villa and Orozco in the north and Zapata in the south rose in response; in 1911 Díaz went into exile and Madero was elected president.
Ten Tragic Days
He kept the old army and bureaucracy and was slow on land reform, so Zapata and others turned against him. In February 1913, during the "Ten Tragic Days," General Huerta changed sides, and Madero was arrested and killed.
Legacy
Madero is called the "Apostle of the Revolution"; his killing pushed the revolution into a more violent phase, and November 20 is Mexico's Revolution Day.
Major works & achievements
- The Presidential Succession of 1910
Did you know? "Effective suffrage, no reelection" later became the standard closing line of Mexican government documents.
Key dates
- 1908Publishes The Presidential Succession in 1910
- 1910Issues the Plan of San Luis Potosí
- 1911Díaz goes into exile; elected President
- 1913Killed during the Ten Tragic Days