William Seward and Mexico

• War of Reform 1858-61 after Santa Anna lost leadership of Liberals to Benito Juarez
  
• Juarez (liberal, republican, anti-clerical) vs. Conservatives (monarchy, Catholic)
  
• McLane-Ocampo Treaty 1859 gave U.S. right of intervention and transit across Tehuantepec in return for $4m. loan to Conservatives, but rejected by Senate May 1860
  
• Juarez victorious Jan. 11, 1861, and recognized by Lincoln government
  
• Juarez suspended foreign debt payments July 17 - Mexico broke
  
• London Convention Oct. 31, 1861 - France, Brit, Spain to intervene to collect debts
  
• Spanish troops land in Dec., French and Brit in Jan. 1862
  
• Brit and Spain withdraw troops Apr. 8, 1862 - only 36,000 French under Gen. Forey remained
  
• French troops occupy Mexico City June 7, 1863
  
• Conservatives invite Archdule Ferdinand Maximilian to become emperor
  
  • Convention of Miramar Apr. 10, 1864
    
• Max. arrived June 1864 but Juarez fights on: "Show me the highest and driest mountain and I will go to the top of it and die there" rather than give up the Republic
  
• Seward refused any recognition of Max. but unable to act due to Civil War
  
• Seward opposed resolution of Sen. James McDougall of California Jan. 11, 1864, to declare war on France unless troops pulled out
  
• Charles Sumner, Chairman of Senate Foreign Relation Committee, gave a "smashing speech" in oppostion to emperor Max.
  
• William Dayton, U.S. Minister to France, rejected the Apr. 4 resolution passed by the House to not acknowledge the Max. monarchy in Mexico, but this was not "Seward's apology"
  
• after Appomattox Apr. 9, 1865, Lincoln allowed arms sale to Juarez
  
• Lincoln shot Apr. 14 and Seward wounded - long physical rehabilitation
  
• Congress Dec. 4 began political conflict with Andrew Johnson over Reconstruction policy
  
• Seward took action in 1866 - Feb. 12 sent Gen. Schofield to Paris to request "definitive information" on the date of French withdrawal, and sent Gen Sheridan to the Texas border with 50,000 troops
  
• Napoleon announced Feb. 22 decision to withdraw over 19 months
  
• Max. executed by Juarez June 19, 1867
  
• Juarez would rule until 1872 death, but unable to implement liberal reforms, and Profiro Diaz from his rebel base in the U.S. would drive VP Lerdo from power 1876.
  

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