VICTORIANO HUERTA: BIOGRAPHY AND CONTRIBUTIONS - HISTORY - 2024

Victoriano Huerta (1850-1916) was a Mexican military and politician who became president of the country in February 1913. He remained in office for a little over a year, until July 1914, when the revolutionaries managed to depose him.

Huerta was one of the leaders of the coup that ended the presidency of Francisco I. Madero. The events that occurred during that coup are known as the Tragic Ten. He is also responsible for the execution of Madero and his vice president when their revolt triumphed.

From left to right Jose C. Delgado, Victoriano Huerta, Abraham F. Ratner.

After coming to power, he established a fierce military dictatorship. Among his decisions is the dissolution of the Congress of the Union, monopolizing him and his followers all the powers of the state.

Right from the beginning of his mandate, there were many sectors of Mexican society that rose up against him. The opponents, led by Venustiano Carranza, would create the so-called Constitutionalist Army that, after a year of war, would end up throwing Huerta from power.

Exiled and imprisoned in the United States for trying to form a group that would make him regain the Mexican presidency, Huerta died in 1916, suffering from cirrhosis of the liver and jaundice.

Birth and early years of Victoriano Huerta

Victoriano Huerta was born in the municipality of Colotlán, in the state of Jalisco, on March 23, 1845. His family had indigenous roots, which at the time used to be an obstacle to achieving great goals or even studying.

In any case, luck had a lot to do with his first steps in the military establishment. Reportedly, during a visit to his place of residence by General Donato Guerra, he was interested in hiring a personal secretary. Huerta, who had attended the municipal school, volunteered and got the position.

His work must have been very good, since as a reward he was offered a scholarship to be able to enter the Military College. His grades were excellent, finishing his studies with the rank of lieutenant in 1876.

His first jobs were in the Corps of Engineers. There he developed topographic maps in various areas of the country. Meanwhile, he continued to climb the military ranks and when 1890 arrived, he had reached the rank of Colonel.

Military career

After the 8 years he spent in the Corps of Engineers, Huerta joined the General Staff of the government then led by Porfirio Díaz. At a time when there were numerous armed uprisings led by indigenous people, Huerta acquired a reputation for severity and even cruelty in the attempt to put an end to these rebellions.

Thus, starting in 1900, he participated in the struggles against the “Yaquis” in Sonora and, shortly after, against the Mayans in Yucatán and Quintana Roo. As a prize in the repression of the Mayans, he was decorated with the Medal of Military Merit and named Brigadier General.

Likewise, he obtained a position in the Supreme Military Court of the Nation. His friendship with the Secretary of War and Marine, General Bernardo Reyes, contributed to this.

Short withdrawal

By that time, Huerta already had certain health problems. Her proven fondness for drinking was joined by a visual condition (cataracts) that appeared during her campaigns in Yucatán. For this reason, in 1907, she applied for a permit and left the army for a few years.

He moved to Monterrey, where his friend Reyes lived. There he worked as Chief of Public Works. In 1909, he returned to Mexico City to teach mathematics.

However, the current political situation prompts him to request his re-entry into the army.

Revolution of Francisco I. Madero

It is the outbreak of the Mexican Revolution led by Francisco I. Madero that makes Huerta return to the army. At first, he is in charge of quelling the rebel attempts led by Zapata. Likewise, it repressed other agrarian movements that were fighting to recover the lands expropriated by Porfirio Díaz.

Despite this work of repression, Huerta manages to survive Madero's triumph, developing a series of political tricks and betrayals to achieve his goals.

When the Porfiriato fell, Huerta remained faithful to the new government, although he was accused of orchestrating some provocative actions against the army of Emiliano Zapata. This causes Madero to try to get rid of him. However, after a new military uprising, the president called him up again, trying to take advantage of his experience.

So good was his work in the repression of that attempted rebellion led by Pascual Orozco, that he became a national hero. Despite this, he had certain confrontations with other revolutionary leaders, such as Pancho Villa, whom he even ordered to be shot.

Villa was saved thanks to the intervention of the Madero brothers and the president orders Huerta to resign from his position.

Tragic decade and presidency

It is in this turbulent environment that Huerta develops his plan to come to power. Through various maneuvers and betrayals, he manages to place himself in the optimal position to reach the presidency of the country.

The beginning of this process is on February 9, 1913. It is then that the so-called Tragic Ten begins, ten days that changed the situation in Mexico. That day, Huerta's old friend, General Reyes and also General Félix Díaz (Porfirio's nephew), took up arms against the constitutional government of Madero.

Huerta, who had returned to the army and declared himself loyal to the government, meets with the rebels to join their cause. Likewise, he signed a pact with the United States ambassador, Henry Wilson, fiercely opposed to Madero.

As military leader, he managed to prevent government reinforcements from arriving in the capital, which was left unprotected from the advance of the coup plotters. Huerta convinces Madero and his vice presidents that the only thing that would save their lives was to resign.

Huerta, president

With a carefully thought out political plan, when the president resigned, the position automatically passed to Pedro Lascuráin Paredes, who contributed to Huerta's aspirations. Lascuráin, he's only in office for 45 minutes. Enough to name Huerta successor and resign.

After this, Madero is assassinated by the men of the new president, despite the promise to spare their lives.

Presidential management

Huerta's presidential term was quite short, just over a year. From the beginning, it was characterized by its authoritarianism, getting rid of its rivals and establishing a military regime, without an effective Chamber of Deputies.

In addition, he ended up losing what little support he had at the beginning. Even his American allies turn against him when he chooses British companies to manage the oil wells.

Inside, his government was not recognized by many. Venustiano Carranza, leader of constitutionalism, began a military campaign from the first day of the Huerta government. Carranza was joined by agraristas like Zapata and Villa.

Thus, on August 13, 1914, Huerta was overthrown and had to go into exile.

Death

In his exile, Huerta passes through Jamaica, Great Britain, Spain and, finally, the United States. She maintained contacts with members of the German government, then immersed in World War I. Her objective was to obtain their support to return to Mexico and regain power.

Likewise, he tries to recruit his old rival Pascual Orozco. Both even arrive in El Paso with the intention of entering Mexico. There they are detained by the US authorities, little interested in the attempt.

Although, initially, he is sentenced to house arrest due to his poor health. Huerta tries again to enter Mexico and, again, is arrested. This time if he goes to prison. There, in the El Paso prison, he died on January 13, 1916.

References

1. Biographies and Lives. Victoriano Huerta. Obtained from biografiasyvidas.com
2. Molina Arceo, Sandra. Victoriano Huerta, the revolutionary who turned dictator. Obtained from expansion.mx
3. Tovar de Teresa, Isabel; More, Magdalena. Memories of the Zócalo: "Days of blood and fire: the overthrow of President Madero in 1913". Obtained from relatosehistorias.mx
4. Biography. Victoriano Huerta. Retrieved from biography.com
5. Minster, Christopher. Biography of Victoriano Huerta. Retrieved from thoughtco.com
6. Library of Congress. Victoriano Huerta (1854–1916) Becomes Interim President on February 19, 1913. Retrieved from loc.gov

7. Study.com. Victoriano Huerta & the Mexican Revolution. Retrieved from study.com
8. Rausch, George Jay, Jr.. Victoriano Huerta: A Political Biography. Recovered from ideals.illinois.edu