Juan Álvarez facts for kids
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Juan Álvarez
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Portrait made by an unknown artist, oil on canvas, Museo Nacional de Historia
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| 24th President of Mexico | |
| In office 4 October 1855 – 11 December 1855 |
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| Preceded by | Rómulo Díaz de la Vega |
| Succeeded by | Ignacio Comonfort |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 January 1790 Atoyac, New Spain |
| Died | 21 August 1867 (aged 77) La Providencia, Guerrero |
| Nationality | Mexican |
| Political party | Liberal |
Juan Nepomuceno Álvarez Hurtado de Luna, known as Juan Álvarez, was an important Mexican general and leader. He was born on January 27, 1790, and passed away on August 21, 1867. He served as the president of Mexico for two months in 1855.
Álvarez became president after a group of liberal thinkers and fighters removed Antonio López de Santa Anna from power. His time as president marked the start of a very important period in Mexican history called La Reforma. This era brought many big changes to the country.
Juan Álvarez gained power in southern Mexico, especially in the Tierra Caliente region. He had strong support from local indigenous (native) peasants, whose lands he worked to protect. He fought alongside famous heroes like José María Morelos and Vicente Guerrero in the Mexican War of Independence. He also took part in many other major conflicts, including the "Pastry War", the Mexican–American War, the War of the Reform, and the war against the French Intervention.
As a liberal reformer, Álvarez believed in a republic (where citizens elect their leaders) and a federal system (where power is shared between a central government and states). He led a revolution in 1854 that followed the Plan de Ayutla. This plan led to Santa Anna's removal and the beginning of the Liberal Reform period. Historians say Álvarez was important because he helped include ordinary Mexican people, especially peasants, in the country's political life. He supported ideas like allowing all men to vote and giving local towns more control over their own affairs.
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Early Life and Fight for Independence
Juan Álvarez was born in Santa Maria de la Concepcion Atoyac on January 27, 1780. His parents were Antonio Álvarez and Rafaela Hurtado. He received his education in Mexico City.
He joined the Mexican War of Independence when it began in 1810. He fought with José María Morelos and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a colonel in less than a year. Morelos trusted him with important and dangerous missions. Álvarez even became part of Morelos's personal guards.
Injuries and Continued Fight
During the war, Álvarez was injured in both legs while trying to take the Fort of San Diego. Most of his men died in this attack, but a brave soldier named Diego Eugenio Salas saved him. Álvarez lost his home and money during the fighting. He had to live off the land but kept fighting against the Spanish. He earned the nickname Gallego (meaning "Galician").
In 1821, he joined Agustin de Iturbide's Trigarantine Army. He led a siege of Acapulco and successfully took control of the port on October 15. After Mexico won its independence, Álvarez wanted to retire from the military. However, the government asked him to stay and command the Acapulco fortress.
Mexico's Early Republic Years
When Vicente Guerrero and Nicolás Bravo spoke out against the First Mexican Empire in late 1822, Álvarez joined them. After Mexico adopted the Constitution of 1824, he became part of the moderate republican party. He supported President Vicente Guerrero against those who wanted to overthrow him, but Guerrero was eventually removed from power.
In May 1833, Álvarez fought against a conservative revolt. This revolt was against the liberal government of Valentín Gómez Farías. When Santa Anna overthrew Gómez Farías, Álvarez led a rebellion in the south. This rebellion failed, and he was sentenced to be exiled. However, this sentence was changed because he helped peacefully stop another revolt in Acapulco.
Mexico as a Centralist Republic
Álvarez offered his help to the government during the Pastry War against France in 1838. He also took part in a revolt against Anastasio Bustamante in 1841. After this revolt succeeded, Santa Anna promoted Álvarez to division general. He also put down uprisings by indigenous groups in the mountains of Chilapa and the Tierra Caliente. These uprisings often involved conflicts between different ethnic groups.
He fought in the Mexican–American War but did not play a major role. During this war, he became the military commander of Puebla and bothered the American forces occupying the area. He helped create the State of Guerrero in southern Mexico and became its first governor. He also fought against the Plan of Jalisco, which removed President Mariano Arista and allowed Santa Anna to return to power in 1853.
The Plan of Ayutla
Álvarez strongly opposed Santa Anna's rule, which had become a dictatorship. On February 20, 1854, he announced a revolt against the government. A colonel named Florencio Villareal then declared a revolutionary plan on March 1 in Ayutla, Guerrero. This plan, called the Plan of Ayutla, listed complaints against Santa Anna's dictatorship.
Key Points of the Plan
The plan stated that:
- Santa Anna and his officers were no longer in charge.
- Once most of the country accepted the plan, a revolutionary leader would call for an assembly. This assembly would choose a temporary government.
- The temporary president would have enough power to govern and protect Mexico.
- States that accepted the plan would form new governments, but Mexico would remain one united republic.
- The temporary president would call for a congress to be formed.
- Trade and military matters would be managed well.
- Laws about forced military service and passports would be ended.
- Those who opposed the plan would be seen as threats to Mexico's independence.
- Nicolas Bravo, Tomas Moreno, and Juan Álvarez were named as leaders of the movement.
The plan was approved in Acapulco with some small changes. Álvarez was chosen to lead the entire movement.
Santa Anna's Response and Fall
Santa Anna took harsh actions against the rebels. He took their property, burned towns that supported the revolution, and executed captured rebel commanders. Santa Anna even led his troops to attack Acapulco but failed to capture the city. He was forced to retreat to Mexico City.
Despite Santa Anna's efforts, the revolution continued to grow. By August 1855, Santa Anna gave up his power. His replacement in the capital, Martín Carrera, tried to find a middle ground and started to follow parts of the Ayutla Plan. However, Álvarez and the other rebel leaders did not trust him. They saw him as a leftover from Santa Anna's rule. After a month of disagreement, Carrera resigned. The government's duties were then given to Rómulo Díaz de la Vega, who supported the Plan of Ayutla, while they waited for Juan Álvarez to arrive.
Álvarez Becomes President
Álvarez and his army reached Chilpancingo on September 8, 1855. His trusted officer, Ignacio Comonfort, worked to convince other revolutionary leaders to accept Álvarez's leadership. This was successful, and Álvarez continued his march.
On September 24, 1855, in Iguala, Álvarez issued a decree. He appointed one representative from each state and territory. He called for them to meet in Cuernavaca on October 4 to elect a temporary president. The representatives met as planned. Former liberal president Valentín Gómez Farías led the assembly, and future president Benito Juárez was one of the secretaries. On the same day, they elected Juan Álvarez as president.
Presidency and the Start of La Reforma
As president, Álvarez formed his cabinet (his group of top advisors). He chose Ignacio Comonfort, a commander from the Ayutla Plan, as Minister of War. Melchor Ocampo became Minister of Relations, Guillermo Prieto was Minister of the Treasury, and Benito Juarez was Minister of Justice and Church Affairs. Miguel Lerdo de Tejada became Minister of Development.
First Steps as President
The first major action of Álvarez's government was to create a temporary constitution. Álvarez wanted to make the federal government stronger and fix Mexico's ongoing money problems. He also announced that if the president's office became empty, the council of state would fill it. On October 15, he offered forgiveness to all military deserters (soldiers who had run away), as many had done during Santa Anna's forced military service.
On October 16, a call was made for a congress to meet in Dolores Hidalgo in February 1856. This congress would organize the nation under a republican, democratic, and representative form of government. This was based on a decree from 1841. The congress did meet as planned, but Álvarez had already stepped down by then.
Divisions and Reforms Begin
There were disagreements within Álvarez's cabinet. Some, like Ocampo and Juarez, wanted to completely get rid of the military and start fresh. Others, like Comonfort, wanted to reform the military but not destroy it. Comonfort was seen as more moderate than the other ministers. These disagreements led to Ocampo's resignation on December 7.
At this time, there was also a lot of confusion about laws across the country. New local governments, created by the Ayutla Plan, were acting almost completely independently. The federal government took strict steps to stop this, forbidding military governors from interfering with money matters or taking funds from customs houses. Álvarez moved himself and his troops to Mexico City. However, his troops, known as 'pintos' (the mottled ones), were seen as brutal, causing fear and rumors that Álvarez would be overthrown in favor of Comonfort.
The Ley Juarez
Álvarez's cabinet included important liberal leaders like Benito Juarez, Melchor Ocampo, and the poet Guillermo Prieto. These were new generation liberals who wanted to make big changes. This period, starting with Álvarez's government, became known as La Reforma. These reforms would lead to the Constitution of 1857 and cause major conflicts that lasted until 1867.
The reforms began with the Ley Juarez (Juarez Law). This law removed the special legal privileges (called fueros) that the Mexican clergy (church officials) had enjoyed. Before this law, church courts could judge priests in both church law and civil law cases.
The Ley Juarez was passed on November 22, 1855. It meant that church courts could no longer judge civil law cases. They could only judge clergy in cases related to church law. Conservatives argued that this law was a way to arrest priests easily and try them in civil courts. They also accused the government of being unfair, saying they supported equality before the law but kept their own special protections.
The Archbishop protested the Ley Juarez and suggested that the Pope should decide on the issue of church privileges. The government rejected this idea. Meanwhile, conservative generals Santa Anna and Blanco were officially removed from their positions. Álvarez's cabinet continued to have disagreements, and Comonfort threatened to resign. Conservatives began to support the more moderate Comonfort for president.
Resignation
Álvarez thought about stepping down and giving the presidency to Comonfort. However, Comonfort's opponents urged Álvarez to stay. On December 4, Álvarez called a meeting of important liberal party members to ask for advice. He was unsure what to do. The next day, he accepted the resignations of all his ministers and asked Luis de la Rosa to form a new cabinet. However, these positions remained empty for the rest of Álvarez's presidency.
In Guanajuato, Manuel Doblado spoke out against Álvarez's government on December 6. He supported Ignacio Comonfort as the new president. His statement accused Álvarez of attacking religion, which Doblado said was what held Mexicans together.
However, before news of this revolt even reached the capital, the elderly President Álvarez decided to step down. He did not enjoy the administrative tasks of governing or the climate of Mexico City. He announced his decision on December 8. Álvarez met with Comonfort and officially transferred the presidency to him on December 11.
Later Life
Álvarez left the capital on December 18 with a military escort. He returned to Guerrero, where he fought against uprisings that opposed Comonfort's government. He continued to fight for the liberal cause during the Reform War, using the southern states as his base.
During the Second French intervention in Mexico, which began in 1861, he advised President Juarez to keep fighting. Juarez even ordered his eastern forces to obey Álvarez if they lost contact with the central government. Juan Álvarez lived long enough to see the French retreat in 1866 and the fall of the Second Mexican Empire in June 1867. He passed away on August 21 of the same year.
See also
In Spanish: Juan Álvarez para niños
- List of heads of state of Mexico
- Reform War
- 1857 Constitution of Mexico
- General Juan N. Álvarez National Park
- List of people from Morelos, Mexico
