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Primary sourceDocument1857

Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1857

1857

The 1857 liberal constitution that Juárez defended through the Reform War and the French intervention.

Juárez governed as constitutional president under this charter, defending it through war and exile.

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Front cover of a red leather-bound book with gold-tooled decorative scrollwork borders. A central oval cartouche with a silver and black label reads 'CONSTITUCION FEDERAL 1857' with ornamental flourishes.
Original cover of the Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States, 1857.

About this source

What it is

This is the printed text of the Mexican constitution promulgated in 1857 by a Constituent Congress, under the presidency of Ignacio Comonfort. It set out individual rights such as free speech and freedom of religion, abolished slavery and cruel punishments, and limited the power of the Catholic Church and the army.

Why it matters

The constitution split Mexican society between liberals and conservatives, triggering the Reform War. Benito Juárez, as constitutional president, defended this document through civil war and the French intervention, making it the legal foundation of his government and the Restored Republic afterward.

Look closer

  • Why would a document about rights and government cause a war?
  • Who gained and who lost power under this constitution?
  • What does the decorative cover of the printed book tell you about how this text was valued?

This document is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Benito Juárez on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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