Name:________________________
Date:_____________________
Questions on “Mexico’s Liberal Reforms” from Born in Blood and Fire by John Charles Chasteen
1) How much of the farmland of Mexico did the Catholic Church own in Mexico as of the mid1800s? What other properties did it own?
2) How did many local parish priests take advantage of the poor peasants? What is “a fuero” and
how did it benefit the Catholic Church?
3) Who initially led the Mexican independence movement? Afterwards how did Church policy
change and what was the effect on “the gospel of Progress”?
4) Why were Mexican liberals increasingly criticizing the Catholic Church? Which elements of
Mexican society supported the Church?
5) How were the backgrounds of Melchor Ocampo and Benito Juarez similar? What did they
exemplify?
6) Why is it surprising that Benito Juarez was able to rise to power (considering his childhood)?
7) How did the new reforms of Benito Juarez affect the military and Catholic Church?
8) What was the intent of the “Lerdo Law”? Why was it opposed by some indigenous villagers as
well as by Conservatives?
9) What were some of the problems that Benito Juarez and his supporters encountered that led to his
temporary overthrow? How did Napoleon III intervene?
10) How did Benito Juarez ultimately return to power? What was the result for the Conservatives and
for the Catholic Church?
Your opinion: What comparisons can you make of Mexico’s liberal reform and other similar movements
that we have studied in this course? Think about the social classes that have opposed such liberal reforms.