Plan of Cuernavaca

The Plan of Cuernavaca (Spanish: Plan de Cuernavaca) was a declaration made in Cuernavaca, Mexico on 25 May 1834 in opposition to reform measures by the liberal administration of Vice President Valentín Gómez Farías. Presumably the declaration was orchestrated by President Antonio López de Santa Anna in agreement with the high clergy. After the triumph of the Plan of Cuernavaca, all laws enacted by the progressives during ten months in office were repealed, the Pontifical and National University of Mexico was reopened, Congress was dissolved and the officials who implemented the reform measures were dismissed. Santa Anna's first dictatorship began. A year later, the conservative faction of the Congress approved the basis for the new constitution that gave rise to the centralist regime in Mexico.

In March 1833, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna was elected as President and Valentín Gómez Farías as Vice-President of Mexico. They alternated leadership of the executive branch due to the frequent absences of Santa Anna. These were sometimes so that he could personally combat military uprisings, and sometimes to "restore his failing health."

While Vice President Gómez Farías was at the head of government, he implemented reform measures affecting the interests of both the army and the Catholic Church. A law was proposed to expand the militias controlled by the States, which would relieve the federal budget. This law, and a discussion about disposal of church property by the States, led to the rebellions of Escalda and Durán in support of "Religion and privileges." Santa Anna asked Congress for permission to take command of the army and combat the rebels. In response to these rebellions, in June 1833 Congress passed the famous Ley del Caso (Case Law) that ordered opponents of the reformist regime into exile. In November 1833, Congress issued a decree that ordered dissolution of army corps which had rebelled against federal institutions.

In ecclesiastical matters, mandatory tithing was removed, the hospices and farms of the Philippines missionaries were placed in charge of the Federation, and the College of Santa María de Todos Santos and the Pontifical and National University of Mexico were closed. In its place, the Department of Public Instruction for the Federal District and Territories was created. Congress ordered creation of primary schools, schools for secular education of primary school teachers, and schools for women and girls. The property of the California missions was seized. On 17 December 1833, Congress issued a decree that authorized the government to fill parish vacancies. This was exercised in some States in the same way that the viceroys had used the power of royal patronage. Bishops and governors of bishoprics who did not comply with this decree would be fined on the first two occasions, and banished from the country after a third offense.

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