Page:Margaret Shipman - Mexico's Struggle Towards Democracy (1927).pdf/14



There were five distinct stages of the Revolution of 1857—(A) initial uprising, 1854; (B) period of parliamentary strategy, 1855–57; (C) second military stage, the war of revolution, 1858–61; (D) European intervention, the counter revolution, 1861–67; (E) Constitutional rule, 1867–1876.

The revolution opened with sporadic revolts, but it was soon unified by a typical Mexican proclamation: the Plan de Ayutla, drawn up by a group of liberals under General Alvarez. It proclaimed that Santa Anna should be discharged, that certain definite steps should be taken for election of president, organization of political machinery in each state and election of Congress, that oppressive laws in regard to individual taxation, the army, and the interurban tariff should be annulled. The response was enthusiastic and wide-spread. Repressive measures failed to quell revolts, Santa Anna fled and the conservatives resorted to strategy.

General Vega, a conservative, called a convention and declared for the Plan de Ayutla. The army now numbered 90,000. Its influence vied with that of the church and had been greatly increased under Santa Anna, who, as a means of consolidating the power of his dictatorship, had filled most of the minor political offices from the military class. General Vega's subterfuge was successful in quieting the people but not in gaining control of the revolution. In 1855, General Alvarez was elected president and Benito Juarez was made minister of justice. Taxes were lightened and organization of state militias authorized, Most important of all, the fueros, established in Mexico ever since the days of the