Unit II: The Intervention in Mexico & the Rise of Diaz (2/2)

Corresponding text is found on p156-174 of Concise History of Mexico.

Characterize the liberal/conservative divide in Mexico in the mid-19th Century.
What changes did the liberals want?

Benito Juarez

What changes did the Juarez Law of 1855, the Lerdo Law of 1856, the Iglesia Law of 1857, and finally the Constitution of 1857 bring to Mexico?

Competing liberal/conservative governments of Mexico beginning in 1857.
Conservatives - central core states; supported by state military; governed from Mexico City
Liberals - northern & peripheral states; strong sense of nationalism; governed from Veracruz

Blue states loyal to Conservative government; Red state loyal to Liberal government (1850s)

Dec 1860 - liberals gain control of Mexico City
March 1861 - Juarez elected President of the Republic

2 significant results of liberal/conservative civil war (aka the Reform War).
   1) problems of government debt greatly exacerbated
   2) some conservatives go into exile in Europe; associate with exiled monarchists

What action did the Juarez Administration take to try and stabilize the Mexican economy?

Result: Tripartite Convention of London in October 1861 (Britain, France, Spain) ; occupation of customs houses at major ports, beginning with Veracruz

April 1862 - unilateral French Intervention begins

Objectives:
  - dissolve Republic under Constitution of 1857
  - establish a monarchy
  - place Mexico under influence of French empire

May 5, 1862 - Mexican military (led by Porfirio Diaz) defeats French military outside Puebla

Battle of Puebla: May 5, 1862 (Cinco de Mayo)

June 1863 - French forces take and occupy Mexico City; Juarez Administration flees to San Luis Potosi; by 1865 forced to hold out in El Paso del Norte

Mexico still displays characteristics of central region v outer states

Juarez has support of northern & western governors and elites, including Luis Terrazas of Chihuahua

French/Mexican Imperial forces begin slow outward push to pacify country under Imperial rule

June 1864 - Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian (Hapsburg Dynasty) & wife Carlota arrive to assume throne

The arrival of Carlota

Emperor Maximilian alienated himself from his base supporters. How?

Emperor Maximilian I; Descendant of the line of Charles V

1865-1867 - French troops withdraw from Mexico; Maximilian decides to stay

June 1867 - Mexico City captured by liberal forces; Maximilian executed by firing squad

Legacy of the results of the Intervention politically?

The only word for this is ... awesome