Vicente Guerrero was born in Ixtla, Mexico in 1782. Vicente was of African descent on his father side and Amerindian from his mother. Vicente Guerrero was the 2nd president of Mexico and the first to come from las clases populares (the “popular” classes), which in Spanish is a euphemism for an individual of peasant or working class background. He took the presidency on April 1, 1829. Guerrero at once set about improving the conditions of the masses, composed of Indians, half-breeds, and Blacks. He ordered schools to be built, established free libraries because reading had been forbidden by the Spanish. He also proclaimed religious liberty, established a coinage system, suspended the death penalty, and took other steps far in advance of his time. His most important act was the abolition of slavery. He ordered the immediate release of every slave in Mexico. The estimated number of Black slaves was 10,595 and 1,050 mulattoes, with Guerrero’s native home state containing the largest number . The remainder were Indians and half-breeds, some of whom had a Negro strain. One of the clauses of The Mexican constitution read, “All inhabitants, whether White, African, or Indian, are qualified to hold office.” Guerrero’s emanicipation proclamation was put into effect almost without resistance because it did not entail great economic loss to the rich, except in one state, Texas. The Texans were chiefly Americans who had migrated into Mexico with their slaves to escape antislavery agitation in the United States. They made it clear that they would not give up their slaves without a struggle and Guerrero, who was busy fighting his enemies in Mexico City, was forced to leave them alone. Later Texas revolted and joined the American Union partly because of the emancipation decree of this Black president. Because of his lack of education, his country manners and his Black blood, he was held in contempt by the upper-class society of the capital. He might have won their approval had he been willing to become their tool and give them a free hand with the masses. This he would not do and tried to win them over to his side by liberal arguments and generous dealing, which proved a total failure. Uniting against him, they drove him from office. His rival, General Bustamente gave a ship captain, Pucaluga, a friend of Guerrero, $13,000 to lure Guerrero to his ship. There Guerrero was made prisoner and executed after a mock trial. His death was followed by nationwide revolt. Vicente Guerrero is a Mexican national hero. The state of Guerrero is named in his honour.