Eleanor Finch
The Mexican Constitution of 1917 is a significant document in the country's history, as it not only encapsulates the ideals of the Mexican Revolution but also sets out progressive social rights and political reforms. The constitution was drafted in Santiago de Querétaro and approved by the Constituent Congress on 5 February 1917, marking a pivotal moment in Mexico's journey towards nation-building. This constitution, still in force today, has had a lasting impact on Mexican society and has served as a model for other nations.
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What You'll Learn
- The constitution was the product of a long struggle for Mexico to unite as a nation
- It was the first constitution to outline social rights
- It was the first constitution to set out workers' rights
- It restricted the role of the Roman Catholic Church
- It was the result of a decade-long revolution that abolished dictatorship
The constitution was the product of a long struggle for Mexico to unite as a nation
The Mexican Constitution of 1917 was the product of a long and arduous journey for Mexico to unite as a nation. The constitution was preceded by years of political instability, violent rebellions, and a decade-long Mexican Revolution that began in 1910. This revolution was a direct catalyst for the constitution, as it brought to the fore various revolutionary factions with their own agendas, leading to a period of civil war.
The revolutionary forces were led by prominent figures such as Pancho Villa, Emiliano Zapata, and Venustiano Carranza, who later became the first chief of the revolution. However, by 1914, these leaders had diverging views, with Villa and Zapata distancing themselves from Carranza. This led to a power struggle, with Carranza seeking to reform the old Constitution of 1857, while the other factions demanded more radical social reforms.
In late 1916, Carranza called for a convention to modernise the old constitution, inviting Mexico's new political class, mostly middle-class reformers, to a Constitutional Convention in Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico. However, the delegates, who were young, ambitious, and relatively apolitical, produced a document that went beyond modernisation. The result was a sweeping constitution with socially progressive overtones, which was issued on February 5, 1917.
The Constitution of 1917 was significant because it united the diverse and divergent revolutionary ideals in matters of land distribution, labour rights, secular and free education, and democratic renewal. It established the basis for free, mandatory, and secular education, mandated land reform, empowered the working class, and outlined social rights, making it a trailblazing document for its time. Additionally, it prohibited presidential reelection and established federalism in Mexico.
The constitution also had an impact beyond Mexico's borders. For example, Emiliano Zapata's vision for land reform inspired the Bolsheviks, whose revolution took place shortly after the ratification of the Mexican Constitution. The Mexican Constitution of 1917 thus stands as a testament to the nation's long struggle to unite and implement progressive social and political changes.
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It was the first constitution to outline social rights
The Mexican Constitution of 1917 was the first constitution in the world to outline social rights. It was the product of a long struggle of more than 200 years of the Mexican nation to unite as a nation. The Constitution 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 later amended several times.
The Constitution of 1917 is considered the legal triumph of the Mexican Revolution. It served as a model for the constitutions of other nations. It was founded on principles such as human rights, the separation of powers, and the separation of church and state. The Constitution of 1917 also paved the way for land reform, empowered the working class, and laid the foundation for free and secular education. It was the first constitution to incorporate social rights, guaranteeing personal freedoms and civil liberties, and establishing economic and political principles for the country.
Articles 3, 5, 24, 27, and 130 were anticlerical and restricted the role of the Roman Catholic Church in Mexico, as well as other organized churches. Article 3 required that education in both public and private schools be completely secular and free of any religious instruction. It prohibited religions from participating in education, essentially outlawing Catholic schools or even religious education in private schools. Article 27 mandated that lands taken from the peasantry during the Porfiriato had to be returned, and that the government could take all land not used "appropriately" and repurpose it for the public good. Article 123 established an 8-hour workday, a 6-day workweek, a minimum wage, and equal pay for equal work. It also gave both labor and capital the right to organize, and workers gained the right to bargain collectively and strike.
The Constitution of 1917 also had a significant impact on women's rights in Mexico. A woman's suffrage movement began in the 1880s and gained momentum during the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920). Women were first allowed to vote in the Yucatán in 1917, and a constitutional amendment in 1953 extended voting rights to national elections and offices. By the early 21st century, women occupied about one-fifth of the seats in the Senate and more than one-fourth in the Chamber of Deputies.
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It was the first constitution to set out workers' rights
The Mexican Constitution of 1917 is significant as it was the first constitution to set out workers' rights. The constitution introduced an advanced labour code that significantly transformed workers' rights in the country. Article 123 of the constitution set a legal basis for unionization and other workers' rights that placed Mexico at the forefront of international labour activism. It established essential legal frameworks for unionization, outlawed debt peonage, and set forth regulations mandating an eight-hour workday and minimum wage laws.
Article 123 was perhaps the most radical of the provisions of the 1917 Constitution and was intended to give the working class relief from the many abuses and hardships they had previously faced from uncontrolled labour managers. The labour code emerged in the context of widespread labour unrest following decades of exploitation, particularly during the violent repression of the 1906 miners' strike in Cananea. The influence of Article 123 extended beyond its immediate provisions, fuelling the growth of labour unions and collective activism throughout Mexico.
The Mexican Constitution of 1917 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 later amended several times. The constitution is considered the legal triumph of the Mexican Revolution and was the first such document in the world to set out social rights, preceding the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic Constitution of 1918 and the Weimar Constitution of 1919.
The constitution also covers other workers' rights, including the right to strike, the right to a day's rest per week, and the right to proper compensation following unjustified termination by the employer. The constitution also established equality regardless of race or gender and restricted the employment of women in dangerous industries or in work after 10 pm. There were also provisions for prenatal relief from onerous work three months before birth and one month following birth, as well as provisions to allow mothers to nurse their babies.
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It restricted the role of the Roman Catholic Church
The Mexican Constitution of 1917 is significant because it restricted the role of the Roman Catholic Church in Mexico, as well as other organised churches. The constitution 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 later amended several times.
Articles 3, 5, 24, 27, and 130 were anticlerical and restricted the role of the Roman Catholic Church. Article 3 required that education in both public and private schools be completely secular and free of any religious instruction. It also prohibited religions from participating in education, essentially outlawing Catholic schools or even religious education in private schools. Article 3 also prohibited ministers or religious groups from aiding the poor, engaging in scientific research, and spreading their teachings. Article 5 restricted the existence of religious orders, while Article 24 restricted church services outside of church buildings, causing great concern for many Mexican citizens. Article 27 empowered the State over fundamental aspects of property ownership, and Article 130 prevented the recognition of the Church as a legal entity, denied clergy the right to vote or hold office, and prevented the Church from participating in politics.
The anticlerical nature of the 1917 Constitution was the result of lengthy and heated debates during the 1916-1917 constitutional congress. It has been argued that these restrictions were included in part due to a desire by anticlerical framers to punish the Mexican Church's hierarchy for its support of Victoriano Huerta. However, the Mexican Constitution of 1857, enacted during the Liberal Reform in Mexico, had already significantly curtailed the role of religious institutions.
The anticlerical articles of the 1917 Constitution were not immediately enforced, with President Álvaro Obregón (1920-1924) choosing not to implement them. However, when Plutarco Elías Calles became President of Mexico in 1924, he strictly enforced Article 130, leading to a violent conflict known as the Cristero War from 1926 to 1929. During this time, actions against the churches and their representatives grew more intense, with seven Catholic churches closed in the State of Tabasco. In 1992, under the administration of Carlos Salinas de Gortari, the articles restricting the Roman Catholic Church in Mexico were largely repealed.
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It was the result of a decade-long revolution that abolished dictatorship
The Mexican Constitution of 1917 is the result of a decade-long revolution that overthrew the dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz. The revolution began in 1910 and culminated in the drafting and ratification of the 1917 Constitution, which enshrined the ideals and aspirations of the revolutionary groups.
The 1917 Constitution is significant because it embodies the revolutionary spirit and marks a decisive break from the past. It is a comprehensive document with 137 articles that define citizenship, organise a government, mandate land reform, and enumerate basic human rights for all Mexicans. It is also the first constitution in the world to set out social rights, preceding the Russian and German constitutions of 1918 and 1919, respectively.
The Constitution of 1917 was drafted in Santiago de Querétaro by a constituent convention during the Mexican Revolution. The site was chosen by Venustiano Carranza, who controlled most of Mexico by the end of 1916, due to its historical significance as the location where Emperor Maximilian of Mexico was executed, ending the Second French Intervention in 1867. The congress opened in November 1916 with delegate elections, and the final draft was approved on February 5, 1917, just a few months later.
The 1917 Constitution incorporated the major features of the 1824 and 1857 charters, including territorial organisation, civil liberties, democratic forms, and anticlerical and anti-monopoly clauses. However, it went further than the previous constitutions in restricting the role of the Roman Catholic Church and other organised churches in Mexico. Articles 3, 5, 24, 27, and 130 were specifically designed to limit the influence of the Church in education and other areas of society.
In addition to its anticlerical provisions, the 1917 Constitution also included important social and economic reforms. Article 3 established free, obligatory, and secular public education, while Article 27 mandated land reform and the return of lands taken from the peasantry. Article 123, known as the "Magna Carta of labour and social welfare," established an 8-hour workday, a 6-day workweek, a minimum wage, and equal pay for equal work. It also gave workers the right to organise, bargain collectively, and strike. These provisions empowered the labour sector and guaranteed social rights for all Mexicans.
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Frequently asked questions
The Mexican Constitution of 1917 was a document that outlined social rights and political reconstruction, serving as the legal triumph of the Mexican Revolution.
The constitution was founded on principles such as human rights, separation of powers, and the separation of church and state. It also paved the way for land reform, empowered the working class, and laid the foundation for free and secular education.
Articles 3, 27, and 123 are considered some of the most important provisions. Article 3 established free, obligatory, and secular public education, free from religious instruction. Article 27 mandated the return of lands taken from the peasantry and laid the foundation for land reform. Article 123 was designed to empower the labour sector, establishing an 8-hour workday, a 6-day workweek, a minimum wage, and equal pay for equal work.
The Mexican Constitution of 1917 was the product of a long struggle of more than 200 years for Mexico to conform as a nation. It was the result of the Mexican Revolution, which began in 1910, and served as the legal culmination of the social and political changes for which the revolutionaries fought.
The Mexican Constitution of 1917 was significant as it was the first constitution in the world to incorporate social rights. It has served as a model for the constitutions of other nations, such as the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic Constitution of 1918 and the Weimar Constitution of 1919. It also had a lasting impact on Mexican society, with amendments being made as recently as 1992.
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