Ley Lerdo

The Ley Lerdo was a Mexican law enacted in 1856 aimed at reducing the power of the Catholic Church by confiscating its properties that were not used for religious purposes, such as land holdings and assets held in trust. The goal was to promote economic development and strengthen the nation’s government by breaking the Church’s economic dominance. It encouraged the sale of these assets to individuals, fostering private ownership and modernization. Overall, the law was part of broader efforts to separate church and state and reshape land distribution in Mexico.