The Plan of Ayutla

The Plan of Ayutla was a revolutionary proclamation issued on March 1, 1854, in Ayutla, Guerrero, by liberal military officers and politicians. The primary goal of the plan was to overthrow the dictatorial regime of Antonio López de Santa Anna and initiate a fundamental political reform in Mexico, known as "La Reforma"

Key Objectives

Remove Santa Anna: The immediate goal was to oust Santa Anna from the presidency, indicting his government for corruption, the sale of national territory (the Gadsden Purchase), and the suppression of political freedoms.

• Establish a Provisional Government: It called for the creation of a provisional government led by a recognized military leader of the revolution, specifically naming General Juan Álvarez.

• Convene a Constituent Congress: The plan mandated the summoning of an extraordinary constituent congress to draft a new federal constitution that would establish a representative republic. This new constitution was intended to replace Santa Anna's centralist policies with a federalist system that ensured individual rights and state autonomy.

• Repeal Unpopular Laws: The plan promised to end unpopular measures imposed by Santa Anna's regime, such as forced conscription and certain poll taxes. 

  Impact

  It brought a new generation of liberal leaders, including Benito Juárez, Melchor Ocampo, and Ignacio Comonfort, into national politics.

• The subsequent liberal government passed the "Reform Laws" (including the Ley Juárez and Ley Lerdo) and proclaimed the liberal Constitution of 1857, which fundamentally reshaped the relationship between the state, the military, and the Catholic Church.