Porfirio Diaz

Porfirio Díaz was an outstanding soldier , ex-military and president of Mexico on more than seven occasions, to manage to govern the country for a period of 30 years. It was a brave man who established a strong centralized state that he kept under control for more than three decades. He played an important role in the Second French Intervention in Mexico and fought in a series of battles in which his military actions stood out, organizing guerrillas against the French .

Biography of Porfirio Díaz

A man of mestizo origin because he was part Indian, he was a man of humble origin. He began training for the priesthood at age 15, but when war broke out with the United States in 1846, he decided to join the army. He followed an illustrious military career , which included serving in service in the War of the Reform and fighting the French in 1861. Previously, Díaz studied law alongside the liberal Benito Juárez , who first became president in 1858. Díaz He returned to Oaxaca when peace was restored, but was soon dissatisfied with the Juárez administration. For this reason he led a protestunsuccessful against the reelection of Juárez in 1871, who died the following year. Díaz continued his protests in a failed revolt against President Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada in 1876, after which he fled to the United States. Six months later, however, he returned and defeated government forces at the Battle of Tecoac (November 1876), and in May 1877 he was formally elected president. During his first four years in office, Díaz began a slow process of consolidation of power and established a strong political base.. His administration achieved some public improvements, but he excelled in avoiding riots. In 1884 Díaz ran for president again and was elected.

What did Porfirio Díaz do

During his tenure he managed to create an orderly and systematic government with a military spirit . He managed to destroy the leadership that governed the country locally and regionally until most public employees responded directly to him. He was in charge of maintaining an adequate and strict order on the courts . He catered to the needs of separate groups and won the support of the mestizos by providing them with political jobs . Due to his cooperative spirit, he managed to get the privileged creole classes to cooperate with the government in exchange for it not interfering with their haciendas.. When he was president, the Mexican government was heavily in debt and short on cash. Therefore, it encouraged foreign investment in the country. The conditions became so advantageous for the suppliers of the capital.

How did he come to power

Porfirio Díaz managed to come to power through the rebellion against the president of the time Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada , when he won the rebellion he was then appointed interim president. When the interim term ended, he handed over power to Manuel González, against whom a coup d’ etat was generated and then he ran for president again, being elected by the people.

Characteristics of his government

During his tenure there was a boom in artistic activities , mainly towards nationalism and towards France and its culture, taking into account literature and art. In this way he promoted the national culture in foreign countries. He gave great importance to the study of history , giving importance to the Second French Intervention.  There was an increase in the repression against the free press, inequality and areas of exploitation of indigenous people.

Achievements of Porfirio Díaz

A series of arrangements were made in the economy and finance of the country, they created new taxes that did not hinder trade and there was greater control of income and reduction of public spending. Under his tenure, the Catholic Church managed to continue to obtain tithes , which affected the small owners. A law was promulgated where the distribution of the public offices of the Executive Power was located in seven state secretariats, among which the Secretariat of Communications and Public Works was named . The transatlantic company Mexicana, Mexicana de Navegación and Naviera del Pacífico were created. 

Exile

The president presented his resignation on May 25, 1911 , and decided to leave power to avoid, according to him, further bloodshed. He sailed to Europe one 31 greater than 1911 never to return. He was fired with 21 cannon shots and the National Anthem was sung. He took the German steamer Ypiranga .

Death

On June 29, Porfirio Díaz received the extra anointing of the sick and on July 2 , in the afternoon, he died . Their ceremony took place at the Church of Saint Honoré and his body brought to Mexico to be embalmed where they remain until today in the cemetery Paris of Montparnasse .

Descendants of Porfirio Díaz

Porfirio Díaz married Delfina Ortega Díaz, and they had four children : Porfirio, Camilo, Luz, and Victoria Díaz Ortega. Later, he married María del Carmen Romero Rubio. And with Amanda Díaz, later.

Slogans and phrases

• Poor of our Mexico, so far from God and so close to the United States.
• Little politics and more administration.
• Let no citizen remain in power and this will be the last revolution.
• It is very natural in democratic peoples that their rulers change frequently.
• We will fight, then, for the cause of the people, and the people will be the sole owner of their victory.
• I can separate myself from the presidency of Mexico without regret or regret; but I will not be able, as long as I live, to stop serving this country.