Mexican Constitution

Learning Targets

Content : I will identify the details of the Mexican Federal Constitution
of 1824 by comparing it to the United States Constitution.

Language : I will read the Mexican Federal Constitution and use
context clues in my reading to complete a chart.

If you had to write a constitution, what laws would you include?

1.On September 16, 1810, Father Miguel
Hidalgo y Costilla, a Catholic priest,
launched the Mexican War of
Independence from Spain with the

issuing of his Grito de Dolores, or “Cry of

Dolores.”

2.He called for the end of Spanish rule in
Mexico, redistribution of land, and racial
equality. This was inspired by the
American Revolution.

3.Mexico finally won their independence
from Spain in 1821. This began the era
known as Mexican National Era (1821 -
1836)

REVIEW:

Mexico is now a
Federation!!!
The parts of this Federation, are the

States and Territories

Next steps:

1.Write a constitution

2.

Elect a president

Mexican Federal Constitution is written and uses the United
States Constitution as a guide but NOT exactly the same.

#1 - It was never submitted to a vote of the people.
Problems with the Constitution

#2 - It was not properly enforced due to lack of leadership.

TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS

BECAUSE OF THIS!

Area in red

Coahuila y Tejas

Area in red

Coahuila y
Tejas

Saltillo

Saltillo became the Capital of the State of
Coahuila y Tejas. PREDICT : Why might this
present a problem with those living in
Texas?

Mexican Federal Constitution of 1824

1.In 1824, 3 years after gaining independence from Spain, the Republic of Mexico wrote the Mexican Federal Constitution

. The Constitution

set forth the rules of government for the Republic of Mexico. The country would no longer be ruled by a King, but now an elected
President.

2.Much of the Constitution of 1824 was based on the Constitution of the United States. A president and vice-president held four-year terms.
They were elected by the legislatures of each of the states of Mexico. Congress was made up of two houses. Senators served four-year
terms in one house of Congress. Deputies served two-year terms in the other house. They were to meet every year from January to the
middle of April. The president could extend these meetings by calling special sessions. The constitution also set up a supreme court with
eleven judges and an attorney general.

3.The Constitution of 1824 was different from the United States Constitution in some ways. For example, the Roman Catholic religion was made
the national faith, and money from the national treasury supported the church. All dealings with the government had to be conducted in
Spanish.

4.The State of Coahuila y Tejas was established in the Constitution of 1824, with the state capital of Saltillo over 1000 miles away from Texas.
Texas was not organized as its own separate state due to the low population. The Mexican congress decided that each state of the
Republic should write its own constitution. Coahuila y Texas then choose representatives to write its constitution but it was not written
until 1827 (you will learn about this later).

Mexican Constitution

of 1824

United States

Constitution in 1824

Executive Branch

Head of Executive Branch:

Head of Executive Branch: President & Vice
President

Elected by:

Elected by: Electoral College

Term of office:

Term of office: 4 years

Legislative Branch

Congress made up of _______ houses. Meets every
______.

Congress made up of 2 houses. Meets every year.

__________serve for _______ years
Deputies serve _______years

Senators serve for 6 years
Representatives in the House serve for 2 years

Judicial Branch

Highest Court is called the:

Highest Court is called the: Supreme Court

Number of Judges=

Number of Judges= 9

Activity 1 - Use the information on Mexican Federal Constitution of 1824 to complete the chart below.

Mexican Constitution

of 1824

United States

Constitution in 1824

Guaranteed Rights

Each state has the right to____________

Each state has the right to write its own
constitution

Religion=

Religion= any

Church supported by money from _______

Church supported by money from private
donations (no government)

Official Language=

Official Language= none

Slavery is outlawed

Slavery = legal

Activity 1 - Use the information on Mexican Federal Constitution of 1824 to complete the chart below.

Activity 2 - Determine one positive and one negative example from the Mexican Constitution and describe
why.

Positive

Negative