Title: The Causes of Mexican Political Instability Following Independence | Ultius
Headings: The Causes of Mexican Political Instability Following Independence
The Causes of Mexican Political Instability Following Independence
Mexico's political instability after its independence from Spain
Mexican military and the road to economic freedom
Cost of freedom outweigh citizen's needs
Caudillismo regime and creating a lasting economy in Mexico
Attachment to colonization and fight for freedom following independence
Love of the Catholic Church and papal powers declining
Economic stability in Mexico caused by liberal and conservative bickering
Conclusion and summary
Works Cited
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Content: Regionalism and diversity of economic and other interests had, of course, existed in colonial times...but in the highly regulated colonial society, the two great unifying forces of Crown and Church had been sufficient to hold the pieces together” (10). The highly localized nature of Mexican society made governing such a swath of disparate peoples a herculean task under the best of circumstances, let alone for a newly formed national government in economic crisis and still living under the threat of intervention from foreign powers. The regional fabric of Mexico was an exacerbating factor in nearly every issue faced by the Mexican state during this time period. This problem was made even acuter by the waning influence of the Catholic Church following independence. Love of the Catholic Church and papal powers declining
While the protestant movement was a world away, Martin Luther's position on the Catholic Church caused the pope and religious leaders to lose power internationally. The role of the Church was central in Mexico’s political and social life prior to independence, and the declining influence of the institution created a vast swath of societal issues that exacerbated the political tensions of the time period. Costeloe states that “ the decline in the power and influence of the Roman Catholic Church after independence was an equally important factor in the erosion of the former appearance of cohesion, and the clergy’s attempts to protect their status, wealth, privileges, and influence were to be a source of much of the political turmoil” (10). The deterioration of the clout and consequence of the Church in the years following independence intensified the regional differences of the nation to a significant degree. Without the commonly held fabric of the church, the insular and far-flung nature of Mexico’s widely varied regions became more apparent and threatened to tear apart the new state. The role of the church also became one of the most important dividing issues between liberals and conservatives, and aggravated much of the conflict between them, further fueling the fires of chaos in Mexican political life.