María Teresa Mirabal facts for kids

Antonia María Teresa Mirabal Reyes de Guzmán (born October 15, 1935 – died November 25, 1960) was a brave woman from the Dominican Republic. She worked as a surveyor and was a political activist. She was one of three sisters who were sadly killed because they stood up to the country's ruler, Rafael Trujillo.

María Teresa Mirabal: Her Early Life

María Teresa was the youngest of four sisters. She grew up in a rich family in the Dominican Republic. Their home province, Salcedo, was later renamed Hermanas Mirabal. This new name means "Mirabal Sisters" in English, honoring them. Her parents were Enrique Mirabal Fernández and Mercedes Reyes Camilo.

Like her older sisters, María Teresa went to Colegio Inmaculada Concepción de La Vega. She later graduated from Colegio Sagrado Corazón de Jesús. In 1954, she finished her math studies at Liceo de San Francisco de Macorís. She then studied to become a surveyor at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo.

On February 14, 1958, she married Leandro Guzmán, who was also an engineer. Their daughter, Jacqueline, was born on February 17, 1959. María Teresa looked up to her sister Minerva. Like Minerva, she became very involved in politics. Over time, the sisters became known as the famous Mirabal sisters.

María Teresa was very upset by the harsh rule of dictator Rafael Leónidas Trujillo. In January 1959, she joined a secret group. This group planned to start what became the June 14 Revolutionary Movement. Their goal was to overthrow Trujillo and bring freedom to their country.

Standing Up to the Dictator

On January 20, 1960, María Teresa was held at a military base in Salcedo. She was released the same day. But two days later, on January 22, she and her sister Minerva were arrested again. They were taken to La Cuarenta, a well-known prison. Then they were moved to another prison called La Victoria.

They were set free on February 7, 1960. However, on March 18, María Teresa and Minerva were arrested once more. They were sent back to La Cuarenta. They were given a five-year sentence, but it was reduced to three years. They were released again on August 18, 1960.

María Teresa was not scared to fight for what was right. She once said, "Life is risked without thinking about possible personal benefits. The main reason we fight is to end all unfair privileges. Perhaps what is closest to us is death, but that idea does not scare me. We will keep fighting for what is just. "

The Sisters' Tragic End

On November 25, 1960, three of the sisters, Minerva, Patria, and María Teresa, were returning home. They had just visited their husbands in prison. Their husbands were leaders of the June 14 Revolutionary Movement. Outside Puerto Plata, agents from the Military Intelligence Service (SIM) attacked them.

The sisters and their driver, Rufino de la Cruz, were brutally beaten to death. Patria was 36 years old, Minerva was 34, and María Teresa was only 25. Their bodies were found with their car at the bottom of a ravine. The scene was made to look like an accident. But everyone knew that the dictator was behind their deaths. This terrible crime angered the Dominican people very much. It was seen as the final straw against Trujillo's rule.

What Happened Next

Historian Bernard Diederich said that the killing of the Mirabal sisters had a huge impact. It affected Dominicans more than many of Trujillo's other crimes. He wrote that their deaths changed things for the people. It helped lead to Trujillo's own assassination six months later, on May 30, 1961.

Today, in the Caribbean country, the sisters are remembered as heroes. They are seen as symbols of people fighting for freedom and women standing up for their rights.

Honoring the Mirabal Sisters

Every year on November 25th, the three sisters are honored. This day is now the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The United Nations declared this day in their memory.

Many tributes have been made to the sisters. These include poems, songs, and books. One famous book is In the Time of the Butterflies (1994) by Julia Alvarez. This novel was also made into a movie in 2001.

See also

• Mirabal sisters