This fascinating study deals with the development of Mexican federalism and focuses on the area of Oaxaca from the historic date of 1786 —the introduction of the intendencia—to 1835, the end of the first Reforma. The author analyzes the problem historically through the role of the elites of Oaxaca, who were torn between the city (Antequera), the region, and the state.
In the first chapter the author introduces the reader to some basic elements of the Oaxaca region in late colonial times: geography and territorial borders, demographic development, and social structure, as well as the economy, the new institution of the intendencia, and municipal government. This is then followed by the political evolution in the years between 1808 and 1835 and thus covers the reaction in New Spain to the 1808 monarchical crisis in the peninsula, the years of rebel occupation of Oaxaca between 1812 and 1814, the Constitution...
