<P> The Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1857 (Spanish: Constitución Federal de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos de 1857) often called simply the Constitution of 1857 is the liberal constitution drafted by 1857 Constituent Congress of Mexico during the presidency of Ignacio Comonfort . It was ratified on February 5, 1857, establishing individual rights such as freedom of speech; freedom of conscience; freedom of the press; freedom of assembly; and the right to bear arms . It also reaffirmed the abolition of slavery, eliminated debtor prison, and eliminated all forms of cruel and unusual punishment, including the death penalty . </P> <P> Some articles were contrary to the interests of the Catholic Church, such as education free of dogma, the removal of institutional fueros (privileges) and the sale of property belonging to the church . The Conservative Party strongly opposed the enactment of the new constitution and this polarized Mexican society . The Reform War began as a result, and the struggles between liberals and conservatives were intensified with the implementation of the Second Mexican Empire under the support of the church . Years later, with the restored republic, the Constitution was in force throughout the country until 1917 . </P> <P> Having overthrown the dictatorship of Antonio López de Santa Anna in 1855, liberal leader Juan Nepomuceno Álvarez Hurtado held the presidency for a short period . According to the established in Plan of Ayutla convened the Constituent Congress on October 16 the same year, in order to establish headquarters in Dolores Hidalgo to draft a new constitution of liberal ideology . The following year, the incumbent president, Ignacio Comonfort, endorsed the call for moving the headquarters to Mexico City . </P> <P> The Congress was divided between two main factions . The larger being the moderate liberals whose plan was to restore the Constitution of 1824 with some changes . It included prominent figures like Mariano Arizcorreta, Marcelino Castañeda, Joaquín Cardoso and Pedro Escudero y Echánove . The opposition was the pure liberals, who wanted to make a complete new version of the constitution . Among them were Ponciano Arriaga, Guillermo Prieto, Francisco Zarco, José María Mata and Santos Degollado . The discussions were heated and lasted over a year . </P>

Who championed reform and the constitution of 1857 in mexico