 The Mexican Constitution of 1857 codified the principles of liberalism in law, especially the separation of church and state and individuals' equality before the law, stripping corporate entities (the Catholic Church and indigenous communities) of special status.This reform sparked a civil war between liberals, who defended the constitution, and conservatives, who opposed it.The War of the Reform saw the defeat of the conservatives on the battlefield, but they remained strong and took the opportunity to invite foreign intervention against the liberals to forward their own cause.