AHC/WI: Mexican Intervention in the American Civil War

[Delta Force]

Mexico was embroiled in its own civil conflicts at the time of the American Civil War (the Reform War and French Intervention). Could pressing irridentist claims against the United States and/or Confederacy have helped to unify Mexico and perhaps even roll back some of its territorial losses?

 

[StephenColbert27]

Extremely unlikely. France was trying very hard to impose their own Imperial interests in Mexico through their puppet regime headed by Maximilian. He was opposed vigorously by Juarez and his forces. Juarez in turn was supported by the Americans, first merely diplomatically but eventually with arms and supplies from the United States. Lincoln and Juarez actually established a good rapport early on. Juarez had sent a representative to Lincoln after he had heard the results of the election. Juarez liked and respected Lincoln for his opposition to the Mexican war 13 years earlier. So yeah. Very unlikely.

 

[Lord Of Tacos]

It's very unlikely Mexico was devastated after a three year civil war and It was invaded by the French who were trying to impose Maximilian to act as a puppet emperor. The Mexicans had not time or interest in an intervention in ACW (Although a weak US would've been great news for Mexicans)

 

[Delta Force]

It's very unlikely Mexico was devastated after a three year civil war and It was invaded by the French who were trying to impose Maximilian to act as a puppet emperor. The Mexicans had not time or interest in an intervention in ACW (Although a weak US would've been great news for Mexicans)

Didn't the Confederate States have their troops stay close to home? If Mexico attacked Texas wouldn't it essentially only have to face Texas?

 

[StephenColbert27]

Didn't the Confederate States have their troops stay close to home? If Mexico attacked Texas wouldn't it essentially only have to face Texas?

No, though they did usually fight in the armies that were closest. However, Texas and Arkansas get mostly cut off from the rest of the Confederacy in '62 and then got totally isolated in '63. But Mexico is fighting the French all through this, so this is all moot.

 

[galileo-034]

It's possible to open a window of opportunity by having the Reform War ending earlier, likely a Conservative victory in 1858, 1859 at latest (that scenario is Juarez being executed in March 58 at Guadalajara and the constitutionalist/liberal opposition beheaded). But even there, I don't see why Mexicans would intervene militarily since they haven't much interests north of the border other than sitting and enriching as a base for Confederate smuggling operations; to have this intervention happening, you would need some kind of pro Mexican rebellion happening in California (example) but that's ASB as far I can tell.

 

[Just a Rube]

Didn't the Confederate States have their troops stay close to home? If Mexico attacked Texas wouldn't it essentially only have to face Texas?

OTL there were mostly only Texans (and Comanche, and Union forces); if Mexico is invading, that would change quickly (at the very least, the Union would absolutely dispatch some troops to repel the invasion, as Texas is still American territory as far as they were concerned).

Not the Mexico would actually try.

 

[Blackfox5]

Which Mexico is invading the US? Is it the French supported Mexican Empire? Or is it the forces under Juarez?

If it is Juarez, he likely dooms the old Mexican republic and gains nothing. If it is the Empire, then it likely speeds up the Union victory and leads to direct US intervention in the Mexican civil war on behalf of Juarez. It would also destroy pro-French feeling in the US which was still quite substantial in American culture until after WWII.

 

[West]

If its the empire.....well Juarez just got a new best friend, if its post empire kicking then mexico's lousy logistics situation limits the ammount of damage, the war goes on longer, but once its over mexico loses even more land as punishment. Likely Baha at the very least.

 

[thezerech]

Considering that Mexico was in its own civil war not very likely. You'd have to change completely Mexican History from 1850 onwards at the least.

 

[Towelie]

The French in Mexico could have tried to funnel things into Texas. Of course, they were strongest in the Southern part of the country, while the anti-Maximillian forces were stronger in the north.

 

[Dave Howery]

if Maximilian did go nuts and try to intervene in the USCW, sending troops and supplies north across the border, wouldn't he be moving right through Juarez's territory, giving him a golden opportunity to practice his guerilla tactics on those convoys?