Problem:
From pre-conquest times to the era of President Benito Juárez, Mexico has experienced a vast array of trends, including the development of an economy based on exports such as silver, the establishment of institutions such as the Inquisition of the Roman Catholic Church, an independence movement led by creoles and clergy influenced by the Enlightenment, and a serious conflict, sometimes even violent, over the question of separation of church and state. One of the historian's main tasks is to pose and answer questions. Your task is to form, and answer, your own thoughtful historical question about one or more of the aspects of Mexican history described above. You should not form a yes-or-no question.