"But wisdom is proved right by her actions" (Matt 11:19)

Benito Juarez was one of Mexico's greatest leaders. He was born about 175 years ago, in 1806. His parents were Zapotec Indians.
When he was three years old, his parents died. Juarez went to live with an uncle until he was twelve. There he helped take care of his uncle's sheep.
Juarez did not want to be a shepherd all his life. When he was twelve, he left his uncle's house. He went to the city of Oaxaca. Oaxaca was the state capital. There he learned to read and write. He became a lawyer.
As a lawyer, Juarez helped poor people. Most of the poor people in Mexico were Indians. They came to his office with their troubles. Many could not pay the very high taxes. Some people came whose relatives were in jail and no one knew why. Juarez wanted each person to be treated fairly. He worked to get laws to help poor people.

an excerpt from Chapter 25 of Scott, Foresman Social Studies~