What were the main differences between Mexico’s Centralists and Federalists in the early republic?

In the early years of the Mexican republic, political life was defined by a struggle between two primary factions: the Centralists and the Federalists. Their differences centered on the structure of government and the role of traditional institutions.1

Key Differences

• Government Structure: Centralists advocated for a strong, centralized government modeled after the viceregal tradition. In contrast, Federalists favored a limited central government with nearly autonomous states.1
• Military and Security: Centralists supported a paid national army. Federalists preferred relying on local militia forces.1
• Religion and Social Status: Centralists were generally conservative and sought to maintain Roman Catholicism as the exclusive religion. Federalists tended to be anticlerical and opposed the continuation of colonial fueros, which granted special legal exemptions to the military and the clergy.1

These factions were often associated with rival Masonic lodges: the conservative Centralists were linked to the Scottish Rite (Escoceses), while the liberal Federalists were associated with the York Rite (Yorkinos). Power frequently shifted between these groups through political maneuvering and military revolts.21