Using whatever POD you deem most likely to give the desired results, find a way to ensure that the 2nd Mexican Empire survives for at least 50 years.
I've mentioned it so many times, but alas, here's my formula again:
1. Capture Juárez in Chihuahua in 1864. This can be done by laying siege to the city instead of the gung-ho assault pulled by the French. That cuts off Juárez and the rest of the Republican staff from fleeing north. Other members of the military will surrender or switch sides after his fall. For bonus points, exile Juárez to the Islas Marías, as killing him would alienate the moderate liberals. However, kill off all of the Radical Liberals, and let God sort them out; they are going to be a pain in the ass to deal with if they are spared.
2. Maximiliano panders to the indigenous peoples. He did this OTL, and it worked like a charm on winning over the indigenous population in the south.
3. Capable people in the country's treasury. This is what ended up bankrupting the Empire, as Carlotta and several other officers grabbed up a lot of money in pointless vanity projects.
4. Convince the Yankees that they do not pose a threat, and that while the French are backing them financially, they won't be there forever.
Indeed. Considering they were a sizable part of the population, and Max's interest in Mexico's native cultures, he will be like a godsend to them. However, there will be some landowners who won't like that, since they will feel that the sudden empowerment of the natives as a threat to their power, which on the short run might cause a lot of dissent, but if Max does manage to defeat them if they do rise up in arms (which will likely do), there won't be any social revolution once we enter 1910.This is the only formula I have seen that makes sense and seems plausible. Most in the forum seem to miss the importance of pandering to the indigenous peoples, that Maxi was willing to do it, and that most conservatives didn't have much of a problem as long as they kept their privileged position in the cities.
Yep, though it's not like the extreme conservatives are going to rise up in arms against him, but they will surely complain. The moderate liberals and moderate conservatives won't make much of a fuss though.Nevertheless there will still be tremendous opposition for quite a while. If Max is effective on all the points above it will ultimately be subdued. A bigger issue will be how Agustin (his adopted son and heir) will take things post Maxi's death.
Indeed. Considering they were a sizable part of the population, and Max's interest in Mexico's native cultures, he will be like a godsend to them. However, there will be some landowners who won't like that, since they will feel that the sudden empowerment of the natives as a threat to their power, which on the short run might cause a lot of dissent, but if Max does manage to defeat them if they do rise up in arms (which will likely do), there won't be any social revolution once we enter 1910.
Besides, listening to their complaints would end up (or at least weaken) the Mayan revolts in Yucatán far earlier than OTL.
Yep, though it's not like the extreme conservatives are going to rise up in arms against him, but they will surely complain. The moderate liberals and moderate conservatives won't make much of a fuss though.
As for the succession issue, that might end up resolved if Maximiliano manages to father a legitimate heir. Max and Carlotta were still quite young (32 and 24, respectively), and it is still doable that they get their act up and generate a child. He would have to give a lot of explaining to Agustín and Salvador later on, though, he might bring back the former Imperial family, if only as minor nobility.
How would Max have handled the conflicts with native americans such as the Apache raiders in the north west?
Maximilian, too liberal for the conservatives, but too imperialist for the liberals.
He'll be in a delicate situation for quite some time, and it would be best if he avoided alienating any supporters that he could possibly gain.
Could you give specific examples on how he could "play the cards right"?Not sure if Max would listen to the Mayas, they were sort of a different situation than the populations on the center of the country.
I just realized Salvador and Agustin were 14 and 3 years old during their adoption. Assuming Max and Carlotta have a legitimate heir shortly after they secure their position they won't have much explaining to do. Also it is not hard to see Agustin marrying a daughter if Mex has one to join both houses somehow.
Salvador, the eldest, would be the heir unless Max and Carlotta have a son.
Probably similar to Porfirio Diaz, that is with force. Once the core of the country has settled down stabilized. I don't think this would be much of an issue or debate with anyone.
As noted above, if he plays all his cards right he can appease most moderates of both ends. The radical conservatives won't rise against him but they might become the main political opposition. The radical liberals might be a bigger issue, but if Maximilian has the moderates on his side, panders to the indigenous population, convinces the US he won't be a problem later on, he shouldn't have too big an issue stamping out the radical rebellion.
Some points:
2) Max and Charlotte apparent inability to have offspring could have been related to some deep reason. Max might have been impotent, or Charlotte barren. The biographer suggests she might have been still a virgin when Max died, though I suppose there is no evidence for this.
Interesting, since I've heard that Maximilian fathered a child via a Mexican woman and Carlota had a child by an officer.