French imperial projects in Mexico, 1820-1867
The standard narrative of nineteenth-century imperialism in Latin America is one of US expansion and British informal influence. However, it was France, not Britain, which made the most concerted effort to counter US power through Louis-NapoleÌon's creation of an empire in Mexico under the Habsburg Archduke Maximilian. Despite its significance to French and Mexican history, this intervention is invariably described as an ~illusion~, an ~adventure~ or a ~mirage~. This thesis answers the question why some Mexicans believed that the survival of the nation itself depended upon French intervention, and why France sought to impose an informal-imperial model on Mexico. It does so by analysing the full context of Franco-Mexican relations from 1820 onwards: French and Mexican ideas about monarchy in Latin America; responses to US expansion and the development of anti-Americanism and pan-Latinism; the consolidation of Mexican conservatism and the French Second Empire's influence as a political paradigm; and, finally, the collaboration of some Mexican elites with French imperialism. This thesis draws upon French, Mexican, British and US sources, especially diplomatic dispatches, periodicals and published works. The
Shawcross, Edward
French imperial projects in Mexico, 1820-1867. The standard narrative of nineteenth-century imperialism in Latin America is one of US expansion and British informal influence. However, it was France, not Britain, which made the most concerted effort to counter US power through Louis-NapoleÌon's creation of an empire in Mexico under the Habsburg Archduke Maximilian. Despite its significance to French and Mexican history, this intervention is invariably described as an ~illusion~, an ~adventure~ or a ~mirage~. This thesis answers the question why some Mexicans believed that the survival of the nation itself depended upon French intervention, and why France sought to impose an informal-imperial model on Mexico. It does so by analysing the full context of Franco-Mexican relations from 1820 onwards: French and Mexican ideas about monarchy in Latin America; responses to US expansion and the development of anti-Americanism and pan-Latinism; the consolidation of Mexican conservatism and the French Second Empire's influence as a political paradigm; and, finally, the collaboration of some Mexican elites with French imperialism. This thesis draws upon French, Mexican, British and US sources, especially diplomatic dispatches, periodicals and published works. The
french imperial project mexico standard narrative nineteenth_century imperialism latin_america expansion british informal influence however france_britain make effort counter power louis creation empire mexico habsburg despite significance french mexican history intervention invariably describe illusion adventure answer_question believe survival nation depend_upon french intervention france seek impose informal imperial model mexico analyse full context franco mexican relation onwards french mexican idea monarchy latin_america responses expansion development anti pan consolidation mexican conservatism french second empire influence political paradigm finally collaboration mexican elites french imperialism draw_upon french mexican british source especially diplomatic dispatch periodical publish_work