Plan of San Luis Potosí facts for kids
The Plan of San Luis de Potosí (Spanish: Plan de San Luis) was a super important document in Mexican history. It helped start the Mexican Revolution. This plan was written by Francisco I. Madero, who wanted to be president of Mexico.
Madero wrote the plan after he escaped from jail. He had tried to run against the old president, Porfirio Díaz, in the 1910 elections. Díaz had been president for a very long time. When it looked like Madero might win, Díaz had him put in jail. Madero escaped and wrote this plan. It explained why people needed to fight back against Díaz. The plan was released on October 5, 1910. It said that the 1910 election was fake and that Madero should be the temporary president. It also told Mexicans to start a rebellion on November 20, 1910.
Why the Plan Was Needed
Porfirio Díaz became president of Mexico in 1876. He took power by force. Except for a short break, Díaz stayed president until 1911. He once told an American journalist that he would not run for president again in 1910.
This made many people excited about new leaders. One person who stepped up was Francisco I. Madero. He was a wealthy landowner. Madero wrote a book called The Presidential Succession of 1910. He gained a lot of support across Mexico. He even started a political group called the Anti-Re-electionist Party.
But Díaz changed his mind. He decided to run for president again. To make sure he won, Díaz had Madero arrested. Madero managed to escape from jail. He then went to the United States.
Writing the Plan
Madero wrote the Plan of San Luis de Potosí in San Antonio, Texas. But he dated it as if it was written in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, on October 5, 1910. This was to make it seem more official and neutral.
He asked some of his friends to look at his ideas. But the plan was mostly his own work. It was meant to be the main idea behind the revolution. The plan was printed in November 1910. It was given out secretly to people. It called for the rebellion to begin at 6:00 p.m. on November 20, 1910.
What the Plan Said
The Plan of San Luis de Potosí gave many reasons why Díaz should no longer be president. It said that the election was unfair. It also said that Díaz had taken land from people. The plan claimed Díaz was treating citizens badly and causing money problems.
The document called for an end to Díaz's strong rule. It wanted to bring back democracy. It said that Mexicans should take action to make this happen. This plan led to the start of the Mexican Revolution. It also led to the end of Porfirio Díaz's time as president.
The plan asked the Mexican people to take up weapons. It told them to rise up against Díaz on Sunday, November 20, 1910, at 6:00 p.m. Not many people joined the fight right away. But it was the beginning of something big.
What Happened Next
After the plan was released, small rebellions started in northern Mexico. People in places like Morelos, near Mexico City, also fought back. These actions put a lot of pressure on Díaz's government.
Díaz finally resigned in May 1911. He then left Mexico and went to live in Paris. A temporary government was set up. New elections were held, and Madero won. He became president.
Madero was president until February 1913. There was a lot of trouble in Mexico City at that time. This event is known as the Ten Tragic Days. A military leader named Victoriano Huerta took advantage of the chaos. He led a military takeover. Madero and his vice president were forced to resign. They were then killed.
After Madero's death, new groups rose up against Huerta's government. Venustiano Carranza, another wealthy landowner, became a leader of forces in the north. He later created his own plan called the Plan of Guadalupe.
Today, November 20 is a special day in Mexico. It is celebrated as Revolution Day. It remembers the start of the Mexican Revolution, as called for in Madero's plan.
See also
In Spanish: Plan de San Luis para niños
