He was born in San Pablo Guelatao, Oaxaca, Mexico, Benito Juárez was a Native American of the Zapotec tribe. His parents were peasants who died before his fourth birthday. He worked in the cornfields and as a shepherd until the age of 12, then on December 17, 1818, he moved to the city of Oaxaca hoping to gain better education.

When Juárez arrived in the City of Oaxaca at the age of 13, he could not read or write Spanish. He was a grain harvester for a short time but soon found a protector in Don Antonio Salanueva, a bookbinder and tertiary of the Franciscan order. With Salanueva and teacher Domingo González, Juárez learned to read. He enrolled in high school at the Santa Cruz Seminary, where he studied Latin and philosophy and finished his high school degree in 1827. The following year, without his protector's consent, he entered the Sciences and Arts Institute, where he graduated as a lawyer in 1834. He was the first to graduate from the Institute with a professional degree.

When Santa-Anna returned to power, Juárez and many other liberals were expatriated, first to Jalapa and then to Havana after a short time at San Juan de Ulúa prison. From Havana, Juárez was deported to New Orleans, where he landed in October 1853. After Santa-Anna's fall and the arrival of Juan Álvarez y Comonfort to the presidency, Juárez was named to head the ministry of justice (October - December, 1855). In November 1855, the law on the administration of justice was passed. Called the "Ley Juárez" (Juarez's Law), it abolished deportations. Juárez was named Governor of Oaxaca and took office on January 10, 1856. He then called elections and was re-elected. When the Federal Constitution of 1857 was issued, Juárez promulgated it.

On December 17, the Tacubaya Plan was proclaimed. Juárez did not support Comonfort's new policies and was apprehended. He was released in January 1858 and fled the capital. In July 1859 with the support of the radical party, Juárez issued what are called the Reform Laws, including independence of the state from the church (religious freedom & no state religion), civil marriage, new regulations for graveyards and cemeteries, and the transfer of church property to the nation.

González Ortega, a civilian who improvised as a military general, led the liberal forces to victory and by the end of December 1860 entered Mexico City. Meanwhile, Juárez had taken command of the government. He held elections and won a mandate to continue. He ordered the suspension of foreign debt payments, provoking military expeditions from England, France, and Spain to Veracruz. In the end, France was the only power that did not turn back, and by 1862, the intervention had begun. Zaragoza stopped the French army at Puebla on May 5, 1862. However, despite a heroic defense by González Ortega, the city fell in 1863 after three months of siege. On May 31, Juárez left Mexico City, becoming the embodiment of Mexico's sovereignty during his exodus.

The French army withdrew due to events in Europe, and the restoration of the Republic began. Juárez was re-elected president and took office on December 25, 1867. Benito Juárez died in the National Palace on July 18, 1872, as the insurrection was failing. Juárez is author of the phrase: "El respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz," meaning "Respect for the rights of others is peace." He is the only full-blooded indigenous national (Native American) to serve as President of Mexico. He was also the first Mexican leader who did not have a military background. His birthday - March 21 - is a national holiday in Mexico.