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| 1849 |
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| Massive peasant revolt in Querétaro for distribution of land. | 1 |
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| 1850–54 |
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| Gen. Mariano Arista was named president but was overthrown in 1853. Santa Anna became dictator with conservative backing. Liberals revolted and put an end to Santa Anna's influence (1854). | 2 |
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| 1855–61 |
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| La Reforma. With the support of liberal caudillo Juan Álvarez, liberals used state power to abolish corporatist privileges and concessions. | 3 |
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| 1855, Nov |
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| Minister BENITO JUÁREZ (1806–72) issued a law rescinding fueros. The clergy protested, and a revolt broke out in Puebla. Álvarez resigned. Ignacio Comonfort assumed the presidency. | 4 |
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| 1856 |
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| The Lerdo Law was authored by Miguel Lerdo de Tejada. It prohibited corporate ownership of land, but Indian villages could keep some communal holdings (ejidos). The law prompted peasant unrest and church opposition. | 5 |
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| 1857 |
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| New constitution granted universal male suffrage, but kept elections to federal offices indirect. The Mexican Church excommunicated anyone who swore allegiance to the new constitution. A coup d'état closed the federal congress. | 6 |
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| 1858 |
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| Benito Juárez was proclaimed president according to the new constitution. Conservatives held Mexico City and proclaimed Miguel Miramón as president. | 7 |
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| 1858–61 |
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| WAR OF THE REFORM. The church, the military, and village Indians supported the conservatives. Liberals had a following among federalist hacendados, unincorporated Indians, and mestizos of the peripheral states. | 8 |
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| 1859 |
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| A law nationalized church property without payment. Separation of church and state was enforced. | 9 |
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| 1861 |
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| Juárez was proclaimed president. A two-year moratorium on all debt payments prompted threats of invasion from Britain, Spain, and France. | 10 |
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| 1863 |
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| French troops entered Mexico (June 7) with conservative support. | 11 |
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| 1864, April 10 |
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| The Archduke Maximilian of Austria was crowned emperor of Mexico (See 1861–67). Foreign capital revitalized the textile industry and railroad building. Conservatives were disillusioned by Maximilian's liberal tendencies. Juárez organized liberals on the border with U.S. support. After Napoleon III withdrew his support from Maximilian, liberals defeated the imperial army and executed Maximilian. | 12 |
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