most of the fine buildings, and collections of art and literature. Catholicism was the legally established religion, embraced by all classes, and the church managed to control most of the lay and military feudal groups. The clergy were exceedingly corrupt, both in private and public life, and church officials had repeatedly plotted with rulers in Europe for establishment of monarchy in Mexico.[1]
The middle class, chiefly mestizo, was small but vigorous. The mining industry, since the expulsion of the Spaniards, had fallen into the hands of small owners. These mine operators, the rancheros (farmers), other provincial property owners and traders were opposed to the strongly centralized government with its exorbitant levies upon industry. Lawyers, merchants and shop-keepers were also influential. Through study of law and military prestige, some liberals entered politics and public office. This middle class was responsible for the constitutions of 1824 and the beginnings of church reform in 1833, at which dates they briefly controlled the central government. When suppressed, they carried on secretly through the Masonic order, which was an important political organization, the York rite being liberal and the Scottish rite conservative.[2]
The laboring class was composed of peons and free wage-workers. The relative size of these two classes is difficult to estimate as Mexican statistics are usually based on racial and property-owning rather than occupational classification. It is certain, however, that the peon class was the larger.
The peons were partly mestizo, but chiefly Indians. They were, as a rule, serfs attached to the land.
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