Simone Lawson
The Constitution of 1917, also known as the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States, was drafted in Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico, by a constituent convention during the Mexican Revolution. It was approved by the Constituent Congress on February 5, 1917, and is considered the culmination of the Mexican Revolution. The constitution was founded on seven fundamental ideals, including the separation of church and state, land reform, and the protection of labour rights. It was drafted by a group of mostly middle-class reformers, many of whom were young and relatively apolitical. The constitution has been amended numerous times since its implementation but remains in force today.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To revise and update the Constitution of 1857 |
| Convened by | President Venustiano Carranza |
| Location | Querétaro, Mexico |
| Attendees | Mexico's new political class, mostly middle-class reformers |
| Attendees' Backgrounds | 50% had university degrees, 30% fought in the Revolution |
| Attendees' Characteristics | Young, ambitious, relatively apolitical |
| Number of Articles | 137 |
| Key Articles | 3, 14, 27, 123 |
| Key Provisions | Separation of Church and State, land reform, labor rights, social security, protection of indigenous peoples' rights, privacy rights |
| Ratification Date | 5 February 1917 |
| Entry into Force | 1 May 1917 |
| Amendments | Over 300 |
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What You'll Learn
Venustiano Carranza and the Constitutionalist movement
The Constitutionalist movement, led by Venustiano Carranza, emerged through the Guadalupe Plan of 26 March 1913, following the assassination of President Francisco I. Madero. The purported purpose of the movement was to restore the Constitution of 1857. However, the profound dissatisfaction among peasant farmers and workers over land dispossession, harsh working conditions in factories, clashes between different political factions, and years of armed conflict necessitated the consolidation of several reforms.
Carranza, who controlled every Mexican state except Chihuahua and Morelos by the end of 1916, aimed to legitimize the Revolution, adopt a new constitution, and be elected president. In November 1916, he invited Mexico's new political class, primarily middle-class reformers, to a Constitutional Convention in Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico. The attendees, who were young, ambitious, and relatively apolitical, included professionals and university graduates.
Carranza initially intended to revise the liberal Constitution of 1857, but the process resulted in a more extensive and novel document. The delegates, who were largely twentieth-century liberals regarded as radicals in Mexico, favoured implementing the proposals of the Mexican Liberal Party and the Ayala Plan. The final draft of the Constitution of 1917, approved on 5 February 1917, incorporated significant changes.
The Constitution of 1917, which remains in force nearly a century later, comprises 137 articles that define citizenship, establish a government, mandate land reform, and outline basic human rights for all Mexicans. Notably, it includes Article 3, which establishes free, compulsory, and secular public education, independent of clerical supervision, and Article 27, which stipulates the return of lands confiscated from peasants during the Porfiriato. Additionally, Article 123 establishes an eight-hour workday, a six-day workweek, a minimum wage, and equal pay for equal work.
The Constitution of 1917 is considered the legal triumph of the Mexican Revolution, reflecting the aspirations of the groups involved, including the agrarian reform advocated by Emiliano Zapata's followers. It grants the government the authority to confiscate land from wealthy landowners, guarantees workers' rights, restricts the rights of the Roman Catholic Church, and expands educational access.
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Middle-class reformers and liberals
The Constitution of 1917, which marked the culmination of the Mexican Revolution, was drafted in Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico, by a constituent convention. It was approved by the Constituent Congress on 5 February 1917 and was later amended several times. The constitution was the result of a congress convened by President Venustiano Carranza, who aimed to revise the liberal constitution of 1857. However, the process led to a more radical document, influenced by the aspirations of various revolutionary groups.
The delegates were influenced by the proposals of the Mexican Liberal Party (PLM) and the Ayala Plan. The resulting constitution, with its 137 articles, reflected these liberal and radical ideals. It included provisions for individual rights, such as free and secular public education, healthcare, decent housing, and labour rights. It also addressed land reform, guaranteeing the government's right to confiscate land from wealthy landowners and return it to the peasantry, as well as mandating the division of large haciendas.
The constitution's anticlerical nature was a significant departure from the previous constitution. While the 1857 constitution had restricted the Roman Catholic Church, the 1917 constitution went further, emphasising the separation of church and state. This reflected the nationalist sentiments of the revolutionaries and the Constitutionalists, who viewed anticlericalism as a nationalist issue.
The constitution also incorporated economic reforms, encouraging and protecting individual economic activities while outlining the conditions for private sector involvement in national economic development. It established municipal freedom and transformed the political administration of the nation's territory. Overall, the Constitution of 1917 was a progressive document that sought to address the social and political issues of the time, and it continues to have an impact even today.
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Emiliano Zapata and his followers
Emiliano Zapata was a Mexican revolutionary and leader of a peasant rebellion in the early 20th century. He was a farmer, an entrepreneur, and a champion of agrarianism, seeking land redistribution from the haciendas to the indigenous ejidos. Zapata remains an iconic figure in Mexico, revered as a nationalist symbol and an emblem of the neo-Zapatista movement.
Zapata's followers, known as Zapatistas, played a crucial role in the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920). They occupied the city of Puebla and won several battles, advised by professional soldiers who had joined their ranks. Zapata's forces also captured the town of Cuautla, blocking access to Mexico City from the south. He was a formidable opponent, and his region was described by a US envoy as orderly, in contrast to the chaos of the constitutional zone.
Zapata's influence on the Constitution of 1917 was significant. His agrarian demands were reflected in Article 27, which mandated the return of lands taken from the peasantry during the Porfiriato, even without written titles. Additionally, the government was empowered to confiscate land from wealthy landowners and repurpose it for the public good. This addressed Zapata's primary objective of land redistribution and empowered the indigenous ejidos.
Zapata's Plan of Ayala, which outlined his agrarian reform vision, was also incorporated into the Constitution. However, some have argued that the land reforms he sought were not fully realized during the Mexican Revolution. It was only later, under President Lázaro Cárdenas in 1934, that many of Zapata's land distribution policies were enacted.
Zapata and his followers faced challenges during the revolution. They were isolated by Carranza's generals, and Zapata was concerned about potential foreign intervention following World War I. Additionally, some rebels defected to the constitutionalists, and Zapata's forces outside of Morelos started to disband. Despite these setbacks, Zapata remained committed to stabilizing Morelos and improving the lives of the peasants in the region.
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The Catholic Church
The Constitution of 1917, also known as the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States, was drafted in Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico, during the Mexican Revolution. It was approved by the Constituent Congress on 5 February 1917 and was the successor to the Constitution of 1857. The 1917 Constitution was the culmination of the Mexican Revolution, and it is still in force today, almost a century later.
The Constitution of 1917 included several provisions that limited the power and influence of the Catholic Church in Mexico. Article 3 established free, obligatory, and secular public education, free from clerical supervision, and secularized the Mexican state. This article also affirmed the separation of Church and State, a key principle in the new constitution.
In addition to the educational provisions, the Constitution of 1917 also included measures that impacted the Catholic Church's land holdings and property rights. Article 27 mandated the return of lands taken from the peasantry during the Porfiriato, even if they did not have written titles. This article also gave the government the right to confiscate land from wealthy landowners, which could include the Church.
The Constitution of 1917 had a significant impact on the role of the Catholic Church in Mexico. By limiting the Church's involvement in education and reducing its land holdings, the constitution helped to shape a more secular and nationalist Mexico. The constitution's anticlerical provisions were a reflection of the revolutionary sentiment of the time and the desire to reduce the influence of foreign entities, including the Catholic Church, in Mexican affairs.
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Foreigners and foreign interests
The Constitution of 1917, also known as the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States, was drafted in Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico, by a constituent convention during the Mexican Revolution. It was approved by the Constituent Congress on 5 February 1917 and was signed on 31 January 1917. The Constitution of 1917 was a culmination of the Mexican Revolution and reflected the nationalist sentiments of the revolutionaries.
The Constitution of 1917 placed limitations on foreigners and foreign interests. Article 27 of the Constitution mandated that lands within 100 km of a national border or 50 km of the sea could not be owned by foreigners. This provision reflected the nationalist sentiments of the revolutionaries and sought to protect Mexico's territorial integrity.
In addition to land ownership restrictions, the Constitution of 1917 also addressed other issues related to foreigners and foreign interests. The Constitution defined citizenship, organised the government, and enumerated basic human rights for all Mexicans. It also included provisions for the protection and participation of indigenous peoples, recognising their traditions and cultural practices in legal proceedings.
The Constitution of 1917 was a significant document that transformed the political administration of Mexico and set a precedent for progressive constitutions worldwide. It incorporated the aspirations of various groups involved in the Mexican Revolution, including agrarian reform and the separation of church and state. The process of drafting the Constitution involved young, ambitious, and relatively apolitical delegates, many of whom were middle-class reformers.
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Frequently asked questions
The 1917 Constitution of Mexico was drafted in Santiago de Querétaro, in the State of Querétaro, Mexico, by a constituent convention during the Mexican Revolution. It was approved by the Constituent Congress on 5 February 1917 and was convened by President Venustiano Carranza.
Venustiano Carranza was the president who, in 1916, controlled most of central and southern Mexico under his Constitutionalist movement. He convened the congress in Querétaro to revise and update the constitution of 1857.
The attendees of the convention were mostly middle-class reformers, half of whom had university degrees and professional qualifications. Only 30% had fought in the Revolution, and they were largely young, ambitious, and relatively apolitical.
