Review of Habsburgs on the Rio Grande by Raymond Jonas

History Indian History

Posted by NewAdmin on 2025-01-30 09:42:56 |

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Napoleon’s Bold Mexican Intervention

In 1862, amid the US Civil War, Napoleon III devised a daring plan to curb the growing power of the United States. With the US population predicted to swell and become a global hegemon, Napoleon aimed to halt its expansion by establishing a French-backed monarchy in Mexico. In 1862, he sent 30,000 troops to overthrow Mexico’s democratic government and create the Second Mexican Empire, positioning it as a barrier to US influence.

The Rise and Fall of the Second Mexican Empire

The empire, backed by French and European resources, was founded on the false assumption that Mexico’s people would welcome a European monarch. The conservative Mexican elite, who opposed secular reforms, lured Napoleon into supporting the monarchy, and Maximilian of Habsburg was chosen to rule. However, despite his ambitions, Maximilian’s reign was short-lived. The local opposition, led by figures like the archbishop of Mexico, undermined his rule, while the French forces struggled against persistent resistance from Benito Juárez's republican forces.

Maximilian’s Struggles and the US Response

Maximilian’s reign crumbled as Mexico's republicans, led by Juárez, reclaimed territory. The French army’s tactics, though initially successful, lacked sustainability. Meanwhile, the growing power of the US, having defeated the Confederacy, forced Napoleon to withdraw his troops in 1866. The US, now a formidable power, pressured France to leave, and Napoleon’s decision to pull out left Maximilian vulnerable to his enemies.

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