Page:Margaret Shipman - Mexico's Struggle Towards Democracy (1927).pdf/17

 sit across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and states of northern Mexico. The United States Congress failed to ratify the treaty or to undertake intervention. The United States navy, however, prevented shipments of arms from Cuba to the conservatives, while munitions were permitted to go across the border to the revolutionists.

The forces of the revolutionists steadily increased and in 1861 were definitely victorious. Juarez re-established his government in Mexico City, obtained a re-election, continued to execute confiscation of church property, and to wrestle with the problems of reconstruction.

The reactionaries now intrigued with the European powers for intervention and monarchy. A few months after the revolutionists entered Mexico City, England, France and Spain signed a pact for joint military intervention in Mexico. Their excuse was protection of their financial interests as Juarez had temporarily suspended payment of interest on the national debt. Their real object was to gain a stronger foothold in the commercial fields of the new world where they saw that the United States was rising to a position of control. Juarez negotiated tactfully in adjustment of the financial situation and England and Spain soon withdrew their small quotas of troops. France continued to press unreasonable financial demands and, in 1864, began military operations which continued until 1867. Maximilian was imported and welcomed exultantly by conservatives. The church encouraged the Indians in their superstitious belief that in him they saw the return of their mythical hero