Melchor Ocampo

Even Santa Anna's conservative allies, despite his generous payoffs to the military for loyalty, have had enough of him by 1855, when he loses Mexico’s presidential office for the fifth and final time, and a liberal, reformist government takes charge.

Santa Anna seeks refuge in Cuba.

As the extent of his corruption became known he is tried in absentia for treason and all his estates confiscated.

To replace him, a junta of representatives names as interim president a moderate liberal, General Martín Carrera, on from August 15.

On August 20, 1855, in agreement with the Plan de Ayutla, he calls elections for a constituent congress.

Under pressure from supporters and opponents of the Plan de Ayutla, he resigns in September, turning the office over to Rómulo Díaz de la Vega.

He then retires to private life in Mexico City.

After 22 days of Díaz de la Vega, a provisional government is installed under Álvarez and the intellectuals of Ayutla.

Álvarez, of mixed Indigenous and African heritage, rides into Mexico City in the company of a bodyguard of Indigenous fighters from the south.

His administration is short but brilliant: Ignacio Comonfort is Minister of War; Melchor Ocampo is foreign minister; Guillermo Prieto is Minister of the Treasury; and Benito Juárez is Minister of Justice.

In the 68 days that he governs, two measures are adopted that change the destiny of Mexico: the convocation of a constituent congress that would write the Constitution of 1857, and the abolition of military and ecclesiastical fueros (privileges).

The latter measure is the Ley Juárez.

One of Álvarez’s concerns throughout his career, both military and political, has been the return of lands to the Indigenous.

Urban life is foreign to Álvarez, and he does not like Mexico City.

Because of his mixed ancestry, his liberalism, and his leadership of Indigenous soldiers, Mexico City is not very hospitable to Álvarez, and there is conflict in his cabinet between supporters of Comonfort and Manuel Doblado.

For those reasons, and for reasons of health, Álvarez soon turns over the presidency to Comonfort, another supporter of liberal reforms.

Álvarez returns to Guerrero.

Comonfort, a moderate liberal who wishes to act a a stabilizing force between the radical conservatives, and the radical liberals (these are named puros, pure), takes office on December 11.