Ponciano Arriaga facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ponciano Arriaga
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| 5th Minister of the Interior | |
| In office 1 December 1855 – 7 December 1855 |
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| President | Juan Álvarez |
| Preceded by | Francisco de P. Cendejas |
| Succeeded by | Francisco de P. Cendejas |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
José Ponciano Arriaga Mejía
19 November 1811 San Luis Potosí, New Spain |
| Died | 12 July 1865 (aged 53) Mexico City, Mexico |
| Political party | Liberal |
José Ponciano Arriaga Mejía (1811–1865) was a smart lawyer and a strong supporter of liberal ideas in Mexico. He came from the state of San Luis Potosí. Ponciano Arriaga believed deeply in fairness and equality for all people. He worked hard to make sure everyone had a chance to own land and be treated fairly by the law.
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About Ponciano Arriaga
Ponciano Arriaga became well-known in the late 1840s. He was especially famous for wanting everyone to have equal opportunities, especially when it came to owning land. He thought that if people had land, they would have more freedom and a better life.
Fighting for Fairness
Arriaga suggested a law where the government would take land from very large farms, called haciendas. This land would then be given to the local Native American communities. He also proposed that if landowners had more than 15 square leagues of land, they had to start farming it. If they didn't, they would lose the land.
Ponciano Arriaga also believed in helping people who didn't own much. He suggested that anyone who owned less than 50 pesos worth of land should not have to pay most taxes. He argued that without these changes, a small group of rich people could control all the land and power. He wanted to prevent an "aristocracy of wealth" from forming.
Arriaga also proposed a law to create a special public lawyer. This lawyer would represent poor people in court. This way, everyone, no matter how much money they had, could get legal help.
His Important Roles
Ponciano Arriaga held many important jobs in the Mexican government. He worked hard to make a difference for his country.
Some of his key positions included:
- Minister of Justice
- Constitutional Congressman, representing many different states like Guerrero, Mexico State, and San Luis Potosí.
- Secretary of the Interior
- President of the Chamber of Deputies in 1856 and again from 1862 to 1863.
As the First Minister of the Interior, Arriaga played a big part in writing the first draft of the 1857 Constitution of Mexico. This was a very important document for Mexico. Because of his work, he is often called the "Father of the 1857 Constitution."
Remembering Ponciano Arriaga
To honor Ponciano Arriaga, the Ponciano Arriaga International Airport in San Luis Potosí is named after him. He is also buried in a special place in Mexico City called the Mexican National Rotunda. This is where many famous and important Mexican people are laid to rest.
