Miguel Lerdo de Tejada
Encyclopedia
Miguel Lerdo de Tejada was a Mexican
statesman, and a leader of the Revolution of Ayutla.
Born in the port of Veracruz, Veracruz
, both he and his younger brother, Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada
, became leaders of Mexico's Liberal Party. As the president of the ayuntamiento (city council) of Mexico City
in 1852, Miguel Lerdo de Tejada proposed inititiatives on public education, transportation, public health, and budgetary reforms.
As the Treasury Secretary under president Ignacio Comonfort
in 1856, Miguel Lerdo de Tejada initiated the Ley de Desamortización de Fincas Rústicas y Urbanas (Disentailment of Rural and Urban Properties Law), commonly known as the Ley Lerdo, which called for the forced sale of most properties held by the Roman Catholic Church
and by municipal and state governments. The Church could retain only the buildings it used for its operations (churches, monasteries, seminary buildings); governments could keep only government offices, jails, and school buildings. Other property, which had been used to generate income for the Church and for local governments, was to be sold with the proceeds going into the national treasury. Because of the disruptions of the War of Reform and the French Intervention that wracked Mexico from 1858 to 1867, few properties were actually sold as a direct result of the Ley Lerdo; most of the "disruptions" attributed to that law actually occurred later, under legislation passed during the regime of Porfirio Díaz
based on that "Ley" as reference.
Miguel Lerdo de Tejada resigned from his position as Treasury Secretary when Comonfort's successor, Benito Juárez
, proposed suspending the payment of Mexico's foreign debt in 1860. He returned to Mexico City with the victorious Liberal government at the conclusion of the War of the Reform on January 1, 1861, and took up his elected post as a member of the Supreme Court, but he died less than three months later, on March 22, 1861.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
statesman, and a leader of the Revolution of Ayutla.
Born in the port of Veracruz, Veracruz
Veracruz, Veracruz
Veracruz, officially known as Heroica Veracruz, is a major port city and municipality on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The city is located in the central part of the state. It is located along Federal Highway 140 from the state capital Xalapa, and is the state's most...
, both he and his younger brother, Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada
Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada
Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada y Corral was a jurist and Liberal president of Mexico.-Background:...
, became leaders of Mexico's Liberal Party. As the president of the ayuntamiento (city council) of Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
in 1852, Miguel Lerdo de Tejada proposed inititiatives on public education, transportation, public health, and budgetary reforms.
As the Treasury Secretary under president Ignacio Comonfort
Ignacio Comonfort
Ignacio Gregorio Comonfort de los Ríos was a Mexican politician and military officer who served as President of Mexico....
in 1856, Miguel Lerdo de Tejada initiated the Ley de Desamortización de Fincas Rústicas y Urbanas (Disentailment of Rural and Urban Properties Law), commonly known as the Ley Lerdo, which called for the forced sale of most properties held by the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
and by municipal and state governments. The Church could retain only the buildings it used for its operations (churches, monasteries, seminary buildings); governments could keep only government offices, jails, and school buildings. Other property, which had been used to generate income for the Church and for local governments, was to be sold with the proceeds going into the national treasury. Because of the disruptions of the War of Reform and the French Intervention that wracked Mexico from 1858 to 1867, few properties were actually sold as a direct result of the Ley Lerdo; most of the "disruptions" attributed to that law actually occurred later, under legislation passed during the regime of Porfirio Díaz
Porfirio Díaz
José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori was a Mexican-American War volunteer and French intervention hero, an accomplished general and the President of Mexico continuously from 1876 to 1911, with the exception of a brief term in 1876 when he left Juan N...
based on that "Ley" as reference.
Miguel Lerdo de Tejada resigned from his position as Treasury Secretary when Comonfort's successor, Benito Juárez
Benito Juárez
Benito Juárez born Benito Pablo Juárez García, was a Mexican lawyer and politician of Zapotec origin from Oaxaca who served five terms as president of Mexico: 1858–1861 as interim, 1861–1865, 1865–1867, 1867–1871 and 1871–1872...
, proposed suspending the payment of Mexico's foreign debt in 1860. He returned to Mexico City with the victorious Liberal government at the conclusion of the War of the Reform on January 1, 1861, and took up his elected post as a member of the Supreme Court, but he died less than three months later, on March 22, 1861.