page_title: Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1857
hierarchical_section_title: Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1857
caption_attribution_description: English: Original cover of the Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1857 Español: Portada de la Constitución Federal de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos de 1857
context_page_description: The Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1857 often called simply the Constitution of 1857 is the liberal constitution drafted by 1857 Constituent Congress of Mexico during the presidency of Ignacio Comonfort. It was ratified on February 5, 1857, establishing individual rights such as freedom of speech; freedom of conscience; freedom of the press; freedom of assembly; and the right to bear arms. It also reaffirmed the abolition of slavery, eliminated debtor prison, and eliminated all forms of cruel and unusual punishment, including the death penalty. It was designed to guarantee a weak central government through federalism, created a strong legislature and an independent judiciary, and a weak executive in order to prevent dictatorship. Liberal ideology of the centrality of private property and suspicion of ownership of property, that is, indigenous communities and the Catholic Church saw the Ley Lerdo incorporated into the constitution.
  A number of articles were contrary to the interests of the Catholic Church, such as education free of dogma, the removal of institutional fueros and the forced sale of property belonging to the church.
context_section_description: The Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1857 (Spanish: Constitución Federal de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos de 1857) often called simply the Constitution of 1857 is the liberal constitution drafted by 1857 Constituent Congress of Mexico during the presidency of Ignacio Comonfort. It was ratified on February 5, 1857, establishing individual rights such as freedom of speech; freedom of conscience; freedom of the press; freedom of assembly; and the right to bear arms. It also reaffirmed the abolition of slavery, eliminated debtor prison, and eliminated all forms of cruel and unusual punishment, including the death penalty. It was designed to guarantee a weak central government through federalism, created a strong legislature and an independent judiciary, and a weak executive in order to prevent dictatorship. Liberal ideology of the centrality of private property and suspicion of ownership of property, that is, indigenous communities and the Catholic Church saw the Ley Lerdo incorporated into the constitution.
  A number of articles were contrary to the interests of the Catholic Church, such as education free of dogma, the removal of institutional fueros (privileges) and the forced sale of property belonging to the church. Conservatives strongly opposed the enactment of the new constitution and this polarized Mexican society. The Reform War began as a result, with the liberals winning on the battlefield and conservatives losing. With that loss, conservatives sought another way back into power and politicians invited Maximilian Hapsburg to establish a monarchy with the support of the church.  The republican government under Benito Juárez was in exile and remained for the United States the legitimate Mexican government.  With the ouster of the French and defeat of the conservatives in 1867, the Restored Republic once more was governed under the Constitution. It remained as Mexico's constitution until 1917, but many of its provisions were not enforced.
caption: Original front of the 1857 Constitution
exif: {}