The Revolt of the Polkos was a coup d'état in Mexico that was launched on February 27, 1847, during the Mexican-American War. The coup was initiated by militias stationed at the Mexican capital with the aim of overthrowing President Valentin Gomez Farias. It would eventually succeed, and Gomez Farias was replaced by Pedro María de Anaya.
It was the second successful coup that Mexico experienced during the Mexican-American War, and Gomez Farias himself had ascended to the presidency in the aftermath of the fall of President Mariano Paredes, who was overthrown in August 1846 for his poor handling of the war. It was also the second non-consecutive time that Gomez Farias was serving as President of Mexico. He had been president in 1833 during which he had attempted to pass many anti-clerical measures.
As the government was struggling to finance the war, the Gomez Farias administration in January, 1847 decided upon nationalizing church lands and selling them to the amount of fifteen million pesos. The measure was met with difficulties and controversy, with conservatives fearing the revival of the 1833 anticlerical campaign, and moderate liberals questioning the effectiveness of such a controversial decree. Violent resistance throughout the country began in January, but it was not until February 27 that the Revolt of the Polkos broke out in the capital. Polkos was a term used to refer to the middle class professionals that made up the militias involved in the revolt.
Meanwhile Santa Anna was returning to Mexico City from the Battle of Buena Vista to focus on Winfield Scott's expedition at Veracruz. He received news of the revolt en route, and eventually took the role of arbitrator, siding with the rebels and deposing Gomez Farias.
Background
The Mexican American War began under the presidency of Mariano Paredes, who, after suffering catastrophic losses throughout the north of the country and ending with American troops under Zachary Taylor, ensconced as far as Saltillo, was overthrown in August 1846. Jose Mariano Salas became interim president.
He also engaged in constitutional reform byrestoring the federalist Constitution of 1824, after a decade of crises culminating in the war had discredited the Centralist Republic of Mexico and led to a resurgence of support for the old constitution. The former dictator Santa Anna proclaimed his support for the federal system and was invited back into the country to help the war effort. New presidential elections were held in December 1846 and were be won by Santa Anna and Valentin Gomez Farias, who would precede to share power. Both men had already ruled together in 1833 during which a controversial anticlerical campaign had been carried out, culminating in Santa Anna switching sides and overthrowing Gomez Farias.
The government was struggling to finance the war, a problem worsened by corruption in the finance ministry, which did not inspire confidence when the government proposed an audit of property owners. On January 7, 1847, a measure was introduced to congress thaty was signed by four of five members of a financial ministry commission, who endorsed the seizure of fifteen million pesos from the church by nationalizing and then selling its lands, which in turn alarmed Gomez Farias’ opponents into fearing that he was reviving the anti-clerical campaign of 1833.
The decree was signed by President of Congress Pedro María de Anaya, and Gomez Farias approved it with the support of FinanceMminister Zubieta. The latter was given instructions to avoid any fraud, or hiding of wealth that would impede the efficacy of the measure. Tenants on church lands were to be fined if they did not hand over their rent to government agents, instead of the church. Minister of Relations José Fernando Ramírez recommended the application of the relevant Indian laws in anticipation of political agitation in the churches. Minister of War Valentin Canalizo urged the utmost severity in enforcing laws against those upsetting the public order.
Local opposition to the decree was more marked. The legislatures of Queretaro, Puebla, and Guanajuato petitioned congress to nullify the decree. The State of Durango refused to enforce it, and the State of Queretaro proposed an alternative plan to fund the war effort. Tenants who lived on church lands were also resistant to the enforcement of the decree.
