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353 constitutional governMent oF Mexico, 1857–1861 (benito juárez, Melchor ocaMPo, Manuel ruiz, Miguel lerdo de tejada) A new constitution was enacted in 1857, but both the Catholic Church and the conservative faction opposed it. Civil war was imminent. At the end of that year (in spite of the fact that he had sworn to uphold the charter), President Ignacio Comonfort decided not to enforce the constitution and instead called on all factions to discuss a new fundamental law that would be acceptable to all parties. Conservatives were not satisfied with Comonfort’s actions and deposed him, and in 1858 conservative general Félix Zuloaga became president. These events started the Three Years’ War. Benito Juárez, who at the time of Comonfort’s coup against the new constitution was chief justice, became president in the absence of the executive according to constitutional provisions . Juárez managed to escape from the conservatives, who held Mexico City, and set up his government in the port town of Veracruz. From there he conducted the war effort. The struggle between liberals and conservatives was bloody and ferocious. No side seemed to have a critical advantage over the other. In mid-1859 the Juárez government issued a set of decrees known as the Laws of Reform that separated church and state.The property of the Catholic Church was to be confiscated and sold; the civil registry was established, and freedom of worship was secured. In 1860 the military standoff was finally broken and the liberal armies defeated the conservatives. We present a proclamation from the constitutional govern- 354 : ConStitutional Government of mexiCo ment signed by Benito Juárez, Melchor Ocampo, Manuel Ruiz, and Miguel Lerdo de Tejada, in which they make the case for the Laws of Reform.This text was written in July 1859, a month after these laws were issued. Likewise, we present the 1860 decree on freedom of worship. ...

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