¿Qué fue la GUERRA CRISTERA? - Resumen | Causas, desarrollo y consecuencias.

Key Concepts:

• Guerra Cristera (Cristero War): A religious conflict in Mexico between 1926 and 1929.
• Ley Calles (Calles Law): A law promoted by President Plutarco Elías Calles in 1926 to limit the participation of the Catholic Church in politics and education.
• Cristeros: Catholic rebels who fought against the Mexican government for religious freedom.
• Modus Vivendi: A period of coexistence between the Mexican state and the Catholic Church after the Cristero War.
• Grupo Sonora: Governments led by presidents from Sonora, such as Adolfo de la Huerta, Álvaro Obregón, and Plutarco Elías Calles.

I. Background and Causes of the Conflict

• Religious Tensions: The conflict stemmed from religious tensions in Mexico in the early 20th century, with liberal politicians accusing the Church of benefiting during Porfirio Díaz's rule.
• Constitution of 1917: The Mexican Revolution led to the Constitution of 1917, which restricted religious practices, limited clergy rights, expropriated religious lands, and established secular education.
• Calles Law (1926): President Plutarco Elías Calles enacted the Calles Law, further restricting the Church's role in politics and education, prohibiting foreign priests, and banning religious attire outside religious buildings.
• Peaceful Protests and Boycotts: Catholic groups gathered 2 million signatures to demand the repeal of the Calles Law, but the government rejected the petition. Catholics then initiated a boycott, refusing to pay taxes or buy government-related products, impacting the economy.

II. The Cristero War (1926-1929)

• Rise of the Cristeros: The radicalization of both sides led to the emergence of the Cristero movement, defending religious freedom. It was composed of Mexican bishops and numerous peasants.
• Cristero Army: The Cristeros, employing religious symbols, gained support from the population and those discontented with the "Grupo Sonora." They armed themselves and initiated an armed struggle against the government.
• Key Uprisings: One of the most important Cristero uprisings occurred in Zacatecas in 1926, led by Aurelio Acevedo and Pedro Quintanar. The uprisings spread to Jalisco, Nayarit, Guanajuato, and Michoacán, eventually covering most of central Mexico.
• Composition of the Cristero Army: The Cristero armies were primarily composed of rural laborers and peasants, many of whom were former supporters of revolutionary leaders like Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata.

III. Resolution and Aftermath

• Negotiations and the Modus Vivendi: In 1929, after a long and bloody conflict, the Mexican government and Church representatives negotiated an end to the war. President Emilio Portes Gil met with the clergy and agreed to end the conflict.
• Terms of the Agreement: Although the Church did not achieve the repeal of constitutional articles affecting the institution, they accepted the agreement, leading to the "Modus Vivendi." The state would not interfere in the Church's internal affairs as long as the Church respected the Constitution and stayed out of politics.
• Continued Resistance: Some Cristeros were not satisfied with the agreement and continued their struggle. New Cristero uprisings occurred in the late 1930s when President Lázaro Cárdenas promoted a socialist education reform.
• Casualties and Migration: The Cristero War resulted in approximately 250,000 deaths. The war caused economic and financial problems, leading many Mexicans to migrate to the United States in search of better living conditions and to escape the armed conflicts.

IV. Notable Quotes and Statements

• "Viva Cristo Rey y Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe" (Long live Christ the King and Our Lady of Guadalupe): The battle cry of the Cristeros.

V. Technical Terms and Concepts

• Laicism: The principle of separation of church and state.
• Expropriation: The act of the government taking private property for public use.
• Socialist Education: An educational approach promoting socialist values and principles.

VI. Logical Connections

• The initial restrictions imposed by the Constitution of 1917 led to increased tensions, which were exacerbated by the Calles Law. This culminated in the Cristero War. The resolution of the war through negotiation led to a period of relative peace (Modus Vivendi), but disagreements over subsequent policies led to further conflict.

VII. Data and Statistics

• 2 million signatures were gathered by Catholic groups to demand the repeal of the Calles Law.
• Approximately 250,000 Mexicans died as a result of the Cristero War.

VIII. Synthesis/Conclusion

The Guerra Cristera was a significant and violent conflict in Mexican history, rooted in long-standing religious tensions and exacerbated by specific laws and policies. While negotiations eventually brought an end to the major conflict, the underlying issues continued to cause unrest and had lasting social and economic consequences, including significant loss of life and migration. The conflict highlights the complex relationship between the state and the Church in Mexico and the struggle for religious freedom.