French intervention in Mexico

The French intervention in Mexico was an invasion of Mexico by the army of France.

Related Topics:
Mexico - France

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The presidential terms of Benito Juárez (1858-71) were interrupted by the Habsburg monarchy's rule of Mexico (1864-67). Conservatives tried to institute a monarchy when they helped to bring to Mexico an archduke from the Royal House of Austria, known as Maximilian of Habsburg (wife Carlota of Habsburg) with the military support of France, which was interested in exploiting the rich mines in the north-west of the country. Many historians believe that the French established the monarchy when they did due to the fact that the United States was in the middle of its Civil War. Had the Americans not been fighting at the time, they could have used the Monroe Doctrine, which stated that the United States would interfere if a European nation attempted to conquer a New World Nation, as justification for a war.

Related Topics:
Benito Juárez - 1858 - 71 - Habsburg - Mexico - 1864 - 67 - Austria - Maximilian of Habsburg - Carlota of Habsburg - France - United States - Civil War - Monroe Doctrine

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Although the French army, then considered one of the most efficient in the world, suffered an initial defeat in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862 (now commemorated as the Cinco de Mayo holiday) they eventually defeated the Mexican government forces led by the general Ignacio Zaragoza and enthroned Maximilian as Emperor of Mexico. Maximilian of Habsburg favored the establishment of a limited monarchy sharing powers with a democratically elected congress. This was too liberal to please Mexico's Conservatives, while the liberals refused to accept a monarch, leaving Maximilian with few enthusiastic allies within Mexico. Maximilian was eventually captured and executed in the Cerro de las Campanas, Querétaro, by the forces loyal to President Benito Juárez, who had kept the federal government functioning during the French intervention. Juárez's position was further strengthened when the United States deployed troops to the Rio Grande river, and threatened an invasion. In 1867, the republic was restored, and a new constitution was written that, amongst other things, confiscated the vast landholdings of the Catholic church (which had been acting as landlord over half the country), established civil marriages and forbade the participation of priests in politics (the separation of Church and State).

Related Topics:
Battle of Puebla - May 5 - 1862 - Cinco de Mayo - Ignacio Zaragoza - Cerro de las Campanas - Querétaro

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After the victory, there was resentment by Conservatives against President Juárez (who they thought concentrated too much power and wanted to be re-elected) so one of the army's generals, named Porfirio Díaz, rebelled against the government and issued the proclamation of the Plan de Tuxtepec in 1876.

Related Topics:
Porfirio Díaz - Plan de Tuxtepec - 1876

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