Jonah Patel
The Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1824, also known as the Mexican Constitution of 1824, was the first constitution of Mexico, enacted on October 4, 1824, establishing the First Mexican Republic. This constitution was formulated after Mexico gained independence from Spain, ending New Spain, and overthrew the short-lived monarchy of Agustin I. The Constitution of 1824 created a quasi-parliamentary system with a weak executive and a powerful legislature, where ministers of state answered to the congress, and the office of the president was subordinate to the legislature. It also emphasized a federal government, which appealed to the Texans, and established Mexico City as the nation's capital. The constitution's impact on settlement in Mexico was seen in the Texas Revolution, where colonists opposed violations of the Constitution of 1824 and declared their support for Federalist Santa Anna, who led a liberal revolution against the centralist President Anastasio Bustamante.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of enactment | 4 October 1824 |
| Type of government established | Quasi-parliamentary system |
| Powers of the ministers of state | Ministers of state answered to the congress |
| Capital of the republic | Mexico City |
| Official religion | Roman Catholic Apostolic |
| States and territories | Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila and Texas, Durango, Guanajuato, México, Michoacán, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Puebla de los Ángeles, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, Sonora and Sinaloa, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Xalisco, Yucatán and Zacatecas; Alta California, Baja California, Colima Territory and Santa Fe de Nuevo México Territory |
| Executive power | President of the United Mexican States |
| Deputy executive power | Vice President |
| Basis of the constitution | Hispanic Constitution of 1812 |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitution of 1824 established Mexico as a federal government
The Constitution of 1824 was the first constitution of Mexico, enacted on October 4, 1824, establishing the First Mexican Republic. This constitution was modelled on the Spanish Constitution of 1812, with entire sections of the Cádiz Charter repeated verbatim. The Mexican document was based primarily on Hispanic constitutional and legal precedents, though it did adopt some practical applications from the U.S. Constitution, such as the creation of a president.
The Constitution of 1824 created a quasi-parliamentary system in which the ministers of state answered to the congress. The creation of a national government did not end the tensions between the provinces and Mexico City. A significant debate centred on whether the capital should be moved from Mexico City, with many refusing to bestow that honour upon it. However, Congress ultimately voted to make Mexico City the capital and to create a federal district.
The Constitution of 1824 emphasised a federal government, which appealed to the Texans, rather than a centralist one. The colonists who participated in the early events of the Texas Revolution opposed violations of the Constitution of 1824 and declared that they were cooperating by expelling Bustamante's garrisons from Texas. The replacement of the federal government with an authoritarian regime in 1835 caused great alarm in Texas and ultimately led to outright rebellion.
The Constitution of 1824 established the following states and territories: Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila and Texas, Durango, Guanajuato, México, Michoacán, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Puebla de los Ángeles, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, Sonora and Sinaloa, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Xalisco, Yucatán, and Zacatecas; and the territories of: Alta California, Baja California, Colima Territory, and Santa Fe de Nuevo México Territory.
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It created a quasi-parliamentary system
The Constitution of 1824 was the first constitution of Mexico, enacted on October 4, 1824, establishing the First Mexican Republic. This constitution created a quasi-parliamentary system in which the ministers of state answered to the congress. This system gave rise to a quasi-prime minister role, occupied by the minister of interior and foreign relations.
The constitution's quasi-parliamentary system had a significant impact on the relationship between the national government and the provinces. It established a federal government, which appealed to the Texans, who favoured a decentralised model over a centralised one. The constitution also granted more autonomy to local governments in the colonies, empowering them with greater decision-making authority.
The creation of a national government, however, did not immediately resolve the tensions between the provinces and Mexico City regarding the location of the country's capital. While the national elite favoured Mexico City, the regional elites were divided, with some refusing to bestow that honour upon it. A special committee recommended Querétaro as the capital, but Congress ultimately rejected this proposal, voting to make Mexico City the capital and creating a federal district.
The Constitution of 1824 also had implications for the executive branch. It established the office of the President of the United Mexican States, but this position was subordinate to the legislature. This reflected the confederalist nature of Mexico at the time, aligning with the spirit of the U.S. Articles of Confederation. The constitution also provided for a vice president, who would assume authority in the event of the president's incapacity.
Overall, the Constitution of 1824's creation of a quasi-parliamentary system had far-reaching effects on the governance of Mexico, shaping the relationship between the national and provincial governments and influencing the powers of the executive and legislative branches.
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It was the first constitution of Mexico
The Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1824 was the first constitution of Mexico. It was enacted on October 4, 1824, and inaugurated the First Mexican Republic. The constitution was drafted after the demise of the short-lived monarchy of Agustin I, marking Mexico's independence from Spain.
The 1824 Constitution was modelled on the Spanish Constitution of 1812, with entire sections of the Cádiz Charter repeated verbatim. The 1812 Constitution had been promulgated by the Spanish Cortes of Cádiz during the Mexican War of Independence, which included representatives from the colonies and addressed colonial grievances. The 1824 Constitution, therefore, reflected a desire for more autonomy for local governments, as well as freedom of speech.
The 1824 Constitution created a quasi-parliamentary system, with ministers of state answering to the congress and a minister of interior and foreign relations acting as a quasi-prime minister. It also established the position of a President of the United Mexican States, who held the supreme executive power of the federation, and a vice president.
The constitution emphasised a federal government, which appealed to the Texans, and specified the states and territories that made up the federation, including Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila and Texas, Durango, Guanajuato, México, Michoacán, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Puebla de los Ángeles, Querétaro, and San Luis Potosí, among others.
The 1824 Constitution also addressed the location of the country's capital, with a special committee recommending that Querétaro become the capital. However, Congress ultimately rejected this proposal and voted to make Mexico City the capital, creating a federal district.
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It was based on the Spanish Constitution of 1812
The Constitution of 1824 was Mexico's first constitution, and it was largely based on the Spanish Constitution of 1812, also known as the Constitution of Cádiz. The Constitution of 1812 was the first written constitution of Spain and one of the earliest codified constitutions in the world. It was promulgated in Cádiz on March 19, 1812, by the Cortes of Cádiz, the first Spanish legislature that included delegates from the entire nation and its possessions, including Spanish America and the Philippines.
The Constitution of 1812 had a direct impact on the emerging states of Spanish America, and it served as a model for the Mexican Constitution of 1824. The Mexican document was based primarily on Hispanic constitutional and legal precedents, with entire sections of the Cádiz Charter repeated verbatim. This is because the men who drafted the new republican constitution of Mexico had served in the Cortes of Cádiz and had helped write the 1812 Constitution. Both the 1812 Constitution and the Mexican Constitution of 1824 established powerful legislatures and weak executives.
The Constitution of 1812 included specific provisions that transformed the institution of local government. It called for the creation of a local government, or "ayuntamiento," for every settlement of over 1,000 people. This provision aimed to shift power from elites to representative institutions through elections, benefiting the bourgeoisie at the expense of the hereditary aristocracy.
The Constitution of 1812 also had a significant impact on the legal status of people in Peninsular Spain and Spanish possessions overseas. It granted Spanish citizenship to natives of territories that had belonged to the Spanish monarchy in both hemispheres, including the Indigenous peoples of the Americas. However, Afro-American peoples of the Americas had to acquire citizenship through naturalization, excluding slaves.
The Mexican Constitution of 1824, modelled on the Spanish Constitution of 1812, emphasized a federal government, which appealed to the Texans, and established a quasi-parliamentary system. It created a national government and a supreme executive power, the President of the United Mexican States, with a vice president. It also established the Roman Catholic Apostolic religion as the official and sole legal religion in Mexico.
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It established the nation's capital as Mexico City
The Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1824 was the first constitution of Mexico. It established a quasi-parliamentary system, with ministers of state answering to the congress.
The creation of a national government did not end the tensions between the provinces and Mexico City. There was a heated debate regarding the location of the country's capital. The national elite favoured the "Imperial City of Mexico" as the capital of the republic, but many refused to bestow this honour upon Mexico City. A special committee on the nation's capital recommended to the Constituent Congress on 31 May 1824 that Querétaro become the capital, with the surrounding territory becoming the federal district.
However, Congress rejected the proposal to move the capital from Mexico City. The discussion then centred on whether a federal district should be created. The provincial legislature threatened secession and civil war if Mexico City were federalised. Nevertheless, on 30 October 1824, Congress voted fifty-two to thirty-one to make Mexico City the nation's capital and to create a federal district.
The decision to establish Mexico City as the nation's capital was significant, as it resolved a contentious issue that had sparked debate and threatened to divide the country. By designating Mexico City as the capital, the government affirmed its commitment to unity and centralised governance. This choice also reflected the influence and preferences of the national elite, who favoured Mexico City as the centre of power.
The establishment of Mexico City as the capital had implications for the country's settlement patterns and urban development. It solidified Mexico City's position as the political, administrative, and symbolic centre of the nation. It attracted government institutions, foreign embassies, and businesses seeking proximity to political power. The city's population grew, and it became a hub for cultural and economic activities, shaping the urban landscape and contributing to the concentration of power and resources in the capital region.
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Frequently asked questions
The Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1824 was Mexico's first constitution, enacted on October 4, 1824, establishing the First Mexican Republic.
The Constitution of 1824 emphasised a federal government structure, with a quasi-parliamentary system and a president, who was subordinate to the legislature. It also established the country as a constitutional monarchy and made Catholicism the official religion.
The Constitution of 1824 encouraged colonisation and immigration, particularly by Europeans and Anglo-Americans, as it was believed this would aid frontier defence. It also established the states and territories of Mexico, including Texas, which later rebelled due to violations of the Constitution.
The Constitution of 1824 was formulated during a time of political upheaval, following the end of Spanish rule and the independence of Mexico. It was influenced by the Spanish Constitution of 1812 and the Cortes of Cádiz, which granted more autonomy to colonies.
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