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Primary sourceDocument17 December 1857

Plan of Tacubaya

Félix Zuloaga · 17 December 1857

A conservative 1857 coup plan that nullified the liberal constitution and set off the Reform War, leading Juárez to become president.

This conservative plan triggered the crisis that led Juárez, as head of the Supreme Court, to become president.

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Scanned printed page headed 'PLAN.' in large black capitals, with a horizontal rule beneath. Two columns of Spanish text follow, beginning 'Considerando: Que la mayoría de los pueblos...' on the left and 'Art. 3.° A los tres meses de adoptado...' on the right.
Plan de Tacubaya, issued by Félix Zuloaga, 17 December 1857.

About this source

What it is

This printed plan was issued by conservative general Félix Zuloaga on 17 December 1857 in Tacubaya. It nullified the Constitution of 1857 while still recognizing Ignacio Comonfort as president, and called for a new constitution to be drafted.

Why it matters

Conservatives opposed the Constitution of 1857 because it stripped the Catholic Church and army of special privileges. The plan led to a coup against Comonfort and three years of civil war between liberals and conservatives, the Reform War. Because Juárez was head of the Supreme Court at the time, the crisis caused by this plan is the reason he assumed the presidency as the constitutional successor.

Look closer

  • Why would army officers and church leaders object to a constitution about individual rights?
  • What does the plan's final line, discharging officials who did not support it, tell you about its purpose?
  • How did one document cause a civil war and bring a new president to power?

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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