In 1910, Madero challenged Mexican President Porfirio Díaz in that year’s election. When it became apparent that Madero had garnered extensive support, Díaz ordered his imprisonment and manipulated the election. Once the falsified election was over, Madero fled to San Antonio, Texas, where he and his supporters issued the Plan de San Luis Potosí–a call for a revolution to begin on November 20, 1910. Following Díaz’s self-imposed exile on the heels of several revolutionary victories on the battlefield, Madero was democratically elected as Mexico’s President. With the support of the U.S. Ambassador, General Victoriano Huerta led a coup against Madero’s government in February 1913. Once the coup succeeded, Huerta ordered the assassination of Madero and his vice president, José María Pino Suárez. As a result of Huerta’s usurpation of power, Mexico once again devolved into civil war.
Francisco I. Madero
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