Juárez was a Mexican Indian who was born in Oaxaca, Mexico. After both of his parents died he was three years old, his uncle took care of him until he was 12. At 12, he moved in with his sister and started school. Juárez eventually entered the Oaxaca Institute of Arts and Sciences to study law and science. He graduated in 1831.

     Juárez became a member of both the state and national legislative and eventually was elected governor of the state of Oaxaca. He advocated small business developed and a constitutional form of government, with shared  power between the national and state governments. in 1855, people were elected who opposed his ideas and Juárez was exiled to New Orleans, where he lived without much money while he prepared to return to Mexico. In 1855, he returned to mexico and was appointe Minister of Justice and Public Instruction. 

       Juárez promoted social equality by abolishing special courts for the clergy and military. He also supported breaking up large estates to help ordinary mexicans acquire land. In 1857, he was chosen to oversee the Supreme Court and serve as the vice Veracruz, where he served as president and tried to enforce Mexico's construction.

      In January 1861, Juárez returned to Mexico City and was officially elected president. Because of Mexico's huge debt, Juárez decided to suspend payments for two years. Consequently, France, along with spain and England, decide to invade. Though France installed Archduke Maximilian to rule Mexico in 1863, continual Mexican resistance and U.S pressure forced France to retreat in 1867, Continual Mexican resistance in 1871. Juárez never used public office for personal gain and is seen as a founding figure in Mexican history.