By Jack Edgecombe-Pepperell & Milos Govedarica Francisco Madero By Jack Edgecombe-Pepperell & Milos Govedarica

Biographical Sketch Madero was born in Parras de la Fuente, Coahila, Mexico. He was born into one of the richest families in Mexico, most of the money came from his grandfather, an extremely successful entrepreneur. He received a Jesuit education but Catholicism had little impact on his life. He was a well traveled and well spoken man, having studied in France and at Stanford in the United States. He returned to manage his families Hacienda after university and treated his peons extremely well.

Political Beginnings While Madero was not a politician from birth, he ascended the political ranks rather swiftly due to his economic expertise and his reputation amongst the peasantry as a socially responsible individual. He lost a few small, local elections in 1904 and 1905 but he began to gain repute as a journalist and released several anti-Diaz newspapers. While he was a brilliant economist, Madero was a bit unorthodox as he believed that he had direct contact with the spirit of former Mexican president Benito Juarez. After the declaration in 1908 that the 1910 presidential elections would be democratic, Madero became more involved in political happenings, but as of yet did not show any intent to run for president.

Lead up to 1910 election Madero published a book in 1908, once again under the directions of the “spirits”, that became very commercially successful in Mexico, entitled La sucesión presidencial, it went as far as to claim that Diaz's rule had long been hindering Mexico. In his book Madero also proclaims that Mexico would be better off returning to the liberal constitution of 1857. Madero's book was extremely well received and he became known as the “Apostle of Democracy” In April 1910, Madero was declared the presidential nominee by the aptly named antireelection party.

Election of 1910 & Incarceration Madero's candidacy and subsequent campaign brought out fanaticism amongst the general population and he was feverishly supported wherever he went in Mexico. He was arrested and jailed in Monterrey and sent to prison in San Luis Potosi. He composed his famous San Luis Potosi Plan while in jail and after escaping prison later that year escaped to the United States and set up his revolutionary headquarters there. Profirio Diaz “won” the 1910 election over stand in candidate Francisco Vazquez Gomez by an electoral vote of 196-187.

Plan of San Luis Potosi This document ushered in the Mexican Revolution and set an eventual goal of disposing Diaz of power. The document declared the elections of 1910 null and void and demanded the destruction of Diaz's regime and the implementing of democracy in Mexico by whatever means necessary. The plan also set a specific date and time for the beginning of the revolution, it cited November 20th, 1910 at 6:00 as the time for uprisings to begin. The Mexican Revolution began on November 20th as planned.

Madero's Ascent to Power During the revolution, Madero was successful in importing weapons from the U.S. to arm his revolutionary forces. Madero's grass-roots rebellion eventually gained the support of 18 Mexican states by February, 1911. In April 1911 Diaz realised that he could no longer gain the favour of the general populace and declared that he would re-distribute the land taken by his regime. Madero was skeptical and instead called for Diaz to step down as president, Madero met with the other revolutionary leaders and drafted a comprehensive plan which called for pay for revolutionary soldiers, the release of prisoners of war, and the revolutionary leaders voice in the new government. Madero also did not want his revolutionary comrades to attack Ciudad Juarez in an attempt to minimise blood shed.

Madero's Presidency Following the signing of the Treaty of Ciudad Juarez, Diaz was exiled to Europe in May 1911 and by early June Madero was welcomed to Mexico City as a the new president to deafening crowds. Madero attempted to continue his moderate political stance by implementing several Diaz supporters in his cabinet. This upset his allies since they were pushing aggressively for reform and this seemed like a step backward. In November 1911 Emiliano Zapata introduced the Plan of Ayala that criticised Madero's lack of land reform that was promised.

Successes of Madero's Tenure He created the department of labour and also introduced labour regulations on the textile industry. Although he was perhaps not as radical as the Zapatistas would have liked, he did make minor land reforms including recognising rural credit. Enhanced infrastructure and improved schools, railroads, and built new highways. Introduced taxation on foreign nations that had oil stakes in Mexico. Lifted the censorship of the newspapers, something that had never been done before.

Failures of Madero's Tenure Did not follow through with his many promises of land distribution and economic reform, and was not as liberal and forceful as his supporters thought he would be. He did not have a good relationship with the U.S and ambassador Henry Lane Wilson had a hand in his demise. He did not eliminate the Hacienda system as he promised to do and this infuriated the peons who once adored him.

The Death of Francisco Madero In 1913, Victoriano Huerta along with several others conspired to have Madero out of the presidency. During La Decena Tragica (Ten Tragic Days) Madero endured a brutal siege by Huerta and his cohorts and eventually Huerta promised Madero “Protection” and once Madero agreed Huerta arrested him. Madero was eventually shot on February 22nd, 1913 after the Huerta supporters alleged that Madero attempted an escape from Huerta's custody.

Reaction to Recession of 1907 While Madero did little involving this since he was not in any office of power during this economic downturn, his alliance with his peons and his fair and logical running of his hacienda was a good precedent to set in the economically tough times. Madero used his economic expertise (and also his Ouija board apparently) to help develop economic and social outlines that he wrote in his book and in his various pieces of legislature that lead to his ascent to power.