Summary of DOCUMENTAL. Reforma, tiempo eje de México 1ra parte

00:00:00 - 00:40:00

This video covers the history of the Mexican Revolution, focusing on the events leading up to President Comonfort's resignation. Comonfort was under pressure to end the liberal Reforma, which led to a coup d'etat. Comonfort finally renounced the presidency, but he still had to leave if he wanted to save his life. The Mexican Revolution is about to start and Comonfort's failure to stop it will have consequences for many years to come.

• 00:00:00 Televisa presents a documentary about the 1856 Mexican liberals' congress, which debates and changes Mexican life for the better. The opposition of the Catholic Church and the conservative party to this new constitution would lead to one of the most dramatic chapters in Mexican history. 150 years later, Mexicans have largely forgotten this important assembly, but every day we experience the freedoms it engenders - the free profession of beliefs, equal courts, and the validation of individual rights. Mexico's independence in 1853 leads to one of the country's most challenging periods - the war with the United States. This is one of the main reasons that many Mexicans are pessimistic about the future. The president-elect, Mariano Arista, tries to reconcile liberals and conservatives, but he is also faced with other great challenges, such as the invasion of filibusters in the north, the greed of military officers ready to revolt, and the country's huge foreign debt. All of these factors seem insurmountable, but in the end, Mexico's lack of resources is also the cause of its problems. The majority of the population is rural farmers and indigenous people who live in difficult conditions, unable to deal with the country's economic crisis or the rebellions. The president, Mariano Arista, resigns
• 00:05:00 The two main political parties in Mexico, the conservative party led by Lucas Alamán and the liberal party led by Miguel Lerdo de Tejada, agree that there needs to be a strong leader to take the reins of Mexico and fix the country's many problems. Antonio Lopez de Santana, a longtime conservative politician and president for the tenth time, is the man they have in mind. The liberal party's proposal is to strengthen Catholicism, align themselves with the Vatican's policies, and reduce popular elections to local councils. The conservative party, led by Lucas Alamán, wants to keep the federal system, listen to popular demands, and open up the Mexican economy. It is estimated that there were between 8.5 and 9 million Mexican citizens in 1895, of which 96% were Catholic. For Alamán and the conservatives, the Catholic Church is necessary not only for its ability to unite Mexicans, but also for its centuries-long experience in politics, its vast and deep influence throughout Mexican life, and its traditional role in providing employment, health care, social welfare, and entertainment. Catholicism is also necessary for Mexico's modernizing bureaucracy, as it provides a level of social stratification that goes beyond the distinctions between "those of reason" and "Indians," as
• 00:10:00 This documentary covers the history of Mexico's relationship with the Catholic Church, highlighting the importance of the church's administrative power over three-quarters of the country's productive land. The church's wealth and good administration are taken into account when looking at the real extent of church administration over agricultural production and other sectors. However, by the time of the economic reforms of the 1990s, the church's grip on national administration had weakened. This weakness was due in part to the liberal's disbandment and dispersal, which saw them become skeptical of the value of the Catholic faith and its efforts to build a secular and democratic society apart from its ideas. However, during the reign of dictator Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, church and state clash more overtly, with the former demanding arbitrary contributions from citizens and the latter suppressing free speech and freedom of movement. In the face of increasing opposition, Santa Anna turns to repression to maintain power and then exile many of Mexico's leading liberals to foreign countries. This creates a breeding ground for the Ayutla Rebellion, which finally topples Santa Anna's dictatorship and restores a liberal government led by Conservative leader Lucas Alamán. The film covers the subsequent rise of the liberal cause and its unexpected outcome: the strengthening of the conservative opposition.
• 00:15:00 This video discusses the Mexican Revolution and the role of the liberal reformers. It focuses on the presidency of Juan Álvarez, who called for a constitutional convention in order to write a new constitution. The most important members of the group were Melchor Ocampo, Benito Juárez, and Guillermo Aprieto. Comonfort was the minister of War. Ignacio Comonfort was the Minister of Finance. The man most responsible for the success of the revolution, and for the subsequent establishment of a new government, was General Álvarez, who resigned in order to allow Comonfort to take over. The new government successfully negotiated with the opposition, and Comonfort was able to bring in a group of moderate liberals who accepted the leadership of General Álvarez. However, the generals were not content with mere leadership of the government, and they desired full control of the military. As a result, Comonfort was very strategic in naming Álvarez as head of the government, knowing that the radical name would attract more liberals, even those who were as radical in their views as the general himself. On November 11, 1855, Álvarez resigned due to illness, and left Comonfort in
• 00:20:00 This video covers the history and background of the Mexican Revolution, which began in 1855. The Revolution was fought primarily by Catholic clergy, who opposed the liberal government's attempts to secularize the country and expand the rights of non-Catholics. The Revolution ended in 1867 with the establishment of a new, conservative government.
• 00:25:00 The Mexican Revolution was a time of great change for Mexico, with the most brillant period in its history being recorded in the debates of the Constitutional Convention of 1956-57. The representatives from all ideological positions were highly prepared, with the most notable generation of Mexican citizens comprising a assembly whose most visible sign is moderation. The members of this assembly are predominately liberal and moderate in their beliefs, with respect to the Catholic Church, they display sincere respect, as only Ignacio Ramírez, a Catholic, is an exception. They are also highly educated, with knowledge of the negative effects that radicalism had on Mexico in the past. This credibility enhances the moderate character of the Congress. In addition, the president's conciliatory attitude is well known to the Congressmen, who have accumulated experience from France and Great Britain, which provides a guide for the project of building a democratic and civilistic republic and protecting individual rights. Many of the ideas behind liberalism in terms of tolerance and civil liberties were derived from Great Britain, as well as many of the concepts of legalism that we now call "state of law." In front of a country immersed in discord, President Comonfort inaugurates the work of the Congress with great pomp and ceremony. There
• 00:30:00 The Mexican Constitution of 1857 was approved, with a controversial article 15 that establishes religious freedom, but also gives Catholicism a prominent place in Mexican society. The following day, the conservative and liberal factions of the legislature could not agree on whether or not to approve the article, so they decided to table the decision until later. However, on 5 February 1857, just before the deadline was due, the article was approved without any agreement. This led to a wave of revolts against the new government, which the conservative faction attempted to quell by offering amnesty to their political enemies.
• 00:35:00 In this video, historian Valentín Gómez Farías discusses the origins of the Mexican Constitution, which was drafted in 1857 and approved by the Mexican people in a referendum. The Catholic Church played an important role in the ratification of the Constitution, as they swore to uphold it in the face of an enemy constitution. However, this oath has come back to haunt many Mexican Catholics, as the excommunication of priests who refuse to pay taxes to support the government has resulted in children dying of diseases such as malaria and yellow fever. The President, Comonfort, is under pressure from radical members of his own party, the Constitution which he is supposed to defend is becoming ever more distant from reality, and he is forced to face the reality that he cannot govern with it. Finally, in December of 1857, General Félix Zuloaga stages a coup d'état, abolishes the liberal Constitution, and convokes a new Congress to draft a new Constitution more in line with the will of the people. The coupsters ratify Comonfort in his newly acquired role as dictator, and give him virtually unlimited powers to pacify the nation. Juárez, the President of the Supreme Court, is also given a free hand to
• 00:40:00 This video discusses the origins of the Mexican Revolution and President Comonfort's resignation. Comonfort is pressured to end the Reforma, which leads to the coup d'etat. Comonfort finally renounces the presidency, but he still has to leave if he wants to save his life. He leaves for exile in the United States in early 1858. The Mexican Revolution is about to start and Comonfort's failure to stop it will have consequences for many years to come.