Mexico's Reform Wars

Questions regarding how the nation of Mexico should be governed, was a predominant theme in Mexican politics following their War of Independence. The conservatives liked the idea of a centralist power structure that was similar to what they had already experienced under colonial rule, and in which the Catholic Church would play a major role. Liberals on the other hand were interested in secular, democratic government, and they looked to the United States and the American Constitution for their inspiration.

The two sides remained locked in a decades-long struggle that would involve an empire, an attempt at a federal republic, and several conflicts with the United States. A major mark occurred in Mexico's history, as one of the episodes culminated in all out civil war. Reform Wars is the designated label for this era.

Post Independence, Mexico experienced (over a span of 36 years) an incredible 50 separate governments. The Liberal Republicans faction gained some control in the 1850s, and began to enact Reform Laws, which were an attempt to permanently cement many of the ideologies that had been rumbling up around the country for the past twenty years. The Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States, (drafted 1857) established freedoms of speech, assembly, gun ownership, and abolished slavery plus all forms of the death penalty; similarly the Church privileges were strongly curtailed..

Eventually heading up the country as president, Benito Juarez was a lawyer of Zapotec roots, with liberal views, who promoted these laws.. With the military on board, the conservative Federalists blocked the measures at every opportunity, and with often bloody results. Clashes were finally experienced in 1857, and President Ignacio Comonfort was forced to resign (and some cabinet members arrested), when the Lerdo Law that aimed to restrict certain property ownership, met with great disfavor by the Church-backed party.

The conservatives implemented their own president, Felix Zuloaga, and the army started to take over more of Mexico. Juarez, arrested for defending the constitution, escaped from prison to the city of Veracruz and began to gather a liberal government there. Between 1858 and 1861, the two sides escalated to full war; amongst their victories, the Republicans managed to re-take the capital city in 1861 (gaining great supporters), even though they did not have the same military experience.

As short-lived as it was, the liberal victory resulted in Benito Juarez as interim president. The war had severely crippled the economy and infrastructure of the country, and conservative guerillas continued to make trouble, executing captured Republicans while simultaneously demanding amnesty for their own captives. Mexico's debt became an excuse for Napoleon III of France to launch a full blown invasion of Mexico.

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