La Reforma
how a liberal, social, and political revolution changed the way of the government in Mexico.
Nathaniel Aceves
Word Count : 496
Process Paper
How I Chose My Topic
When I found out that this year's NHD theme was, I was already thinking of ideas to do. I wanted to do a historic event from my background. I am Mexican from both sides and I wanted to research an event from my heritage. For my National History Day topic I picked La Reforma. La Reforma was a liberal , political, and social revolution in Mexico during the time period of 1854-1876. I heard about this event from one of my family members and I decided to research more about it. My topic fits this year's theme because it fit all three categories of Revolution, Reaction, and Reform. I think that it fits all of these three categories because It involved a series of significant reforms that spurred a violent reaction and ultimately led to profound revolutionary changes in Mexican society.
How I Conducted My Research
Before I could create my website I needed to learn more about my topic. I went to Google and searched La Reforma to look for websites. I found many useful websites for my topic. After I learned enough about my topic, I now had to learn how to build a website. I went on Google again to find my domain to start my website. After I had my domain, I had to start thinking about how I wanted my website to look. I then went to my Annotated Bibliography to look at how the websites looked.Then I started to build mine.
How I Started The Building of my Website
First I had to find what design I would want to have. I had to choose the colors and the designs that would be on my homepage. I started to sketch some ideas on how I wanted to look. I sketched my homepage looking with my topic title in bold letters then a picture of my topic and then finally the information on the bottom. I then started to build the actual web suite with the image I had. I first worked on it then I went to my website on my phone to see how it looked. After looking at it and getting some feedback, I fixed it. I then started to add the links to different words to better explain what that word meant or was. The tools that I used were square space where I could create my own domain and link to my website. I used different designs of the tool to better elevate it.
How My Topic Relates To This Year's Theme
La Reforma fits the 2026 NHD theme because its major events clearly show reform sparking reaction and revolutionary change. The Juarez Law and Lerdo Law attempted to reform Mexico by limiting the church and military privileges. These reforms triggered a powerful reaction from conservatives who opposed losing traditional authority. Their resistance led directly to the Reform War, a national conflict that marked a revolutionary struggle over Mexico’s future. The eventual victory of liberal forces and the Constitution of 1857 completed the reform movement, reshaping Mexico’s political structure. Together , these events illustrate reform, reaction, and revolutionary transformation.
Annotated Bibliography ( Secondary Sources)
Historical Context The War of Reform (1857-1861). Historical Context – LLILAS Benson Digital Scholarship. Retrieved October 30, 2025, from https://sites.utexas.edu/llilasbensonds/projects/visualizing-the-19th-century-mexican-political-sphere/historical-context/
This was a secondary source
This helped me learn about all the laws that happened before and during La Reforma
This helped me understand the things that the law enforced
Hispanic American Historical Review. (n.d.). Priests and Peasants in Central Mexico: Social Conflict During “La Reforma. Retrieved October 30, 2025, from .https://read.dukeupress.edu/hahr/article/57/2/296/150324/Priests-and-Peasants-in-Central-Mexico-Social
This was a secondary source
This helped me learn the economic and political authority that started the situation of the separation of the revolutionary state and the church
This helped me understand my topic by giving a more detailed explanation of what things were happing to the systems of things during La Reforma
La Reforma Timeline. (n.d.). Mexico from 1833 to the Constitution of 1917.
Retrieved October 30, 2025, from https://www.sutori.com/en/story/la-reforma-timeline--KMZB27PzitBWSm7TxvznpyUB
This was a secondary source
This helped me learn what happened during the years following the events during La Reforma
This helped me understand what details happened during this events following the years of La Reforma
The war of "La reforma" in Mexico, 1858-1861. (n.d.). The war of "La reforma" in Mexico, 1858-1861. Retrieved October 30, 2025, from
https://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/items/f077ede5-b933-4369-8886-71e676d6e1fa
This source was a secondary source
This helped me learn the description of the war during La Reforma
This helped me understand the main things I need to know about my topic.
La Reforma Mexico. (n.d.). La Reforma Mexico.
Retrieved October 30, 2025, from
https://quizlet.com/55630278/la-reforma-mexico-flash-cards/
This is a secondary source
This source helped me be able to study for any questions that I need for my topic.
This source helped me understand the events or things that happened with an explanation
Age of Revolution. (n.d.). Age of Revolution.
Retrieved October 30, 2025, from
http://historyworldsome.blogspot.com › 2013/11 › fro…
This source was a secondary source
This helped me learn the dark periods during La Reforma
This helped me understand the Liberal Reforms, The War of Reform , The French Intervention, and the Restored Republic.
La Reforma in Mexico History. (n.d.). Britannica.
Retrieved Nov 20, 2025, from
https://www.britannica.com/place/Mexico/La-Reforma
This was a secondary source
This source was used to learn about my topic
This helped me understand the roles of people that were involved with this event
Benito Juarez and La Reforma What were Juarez's principal reforms. (2025, April 14). University of Colorado DenverIntroduction to Cultures of the Spanish Speaking World.
Retrieved November 14, 2025, from
https://www.studocu.com/en-us/messages/question/11788489/undefined
This was a secondary source
This helped learn the main things that Benito Juarez had to do
This helped me understand my topic my learning what happened during this time period
The Mexican Reform, 1855–1876: A Study in Liberal Nation-Building. (1981, 01 May). The Mexican Reform, 1855–1876: A Study in Liberal Nation-Building. By Sinkin, Richard N.. Austin: Institute of Latin American Studies, The University of Texas, 1979. Tables. Appendixes. Notes. Bibliography.
Retrieved November 14, 2025, from
This was a secondary source
This source was used to learn about the political fighting going in Mexico and learning about how they value their power
This helped me understand my topic by learning the problems building up in Mexico to lead this event into action
From La Reforma to the Porfiriato of Mexico. (n.d.). Age of Revolution.
Retrieved Nov 20, 2025, from
https://historyworldsome.blogspot.com/2013/11/from-la-reforma-to-porfiriato-of-mexico.html
This was a secondary source
This source was used to learn about my topic
This source helped me understand the government situation happening before La Reforma \
The Impact of 'La Reforma' on Modern Mexican Society. (2024, June 25). Aithor.
Retrieved Nov 20, 2025, from
https://aithor.com/essay-examples/the-impact-of-la-reforma-on-modern-mexican-society
This source was a secondary source
This source was used to learn about my topic
This source helped me understand how to write an essay about my topic
he Significance of the Reform Period (1855-1862). (1910). The Significance of the Reform Period.
Retrieved November 14, 2025, from
http://www.revistascisan.unam.mx/Voices/pdfs/8813.pdf
This was a secondary source
This source was used to learn the significance of this event
This helped me understand why La Reforma was used to help the government of Mexico during the law of Benito Juarez
La Reforma Timeline. (n.d.). Mexico from 1833 to the Constitution of 1917.
Retrieved October 30, 2025, from https://www.sutori.com/en/story/la-reforma-timeline--KMZB27PzitBWSm7TxvznpyUB
This was a secondary source
This helped me learn what happened during the years following the events during La Reforma
This helped me understand what details happened during this events following the years of La Reforma
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