Rise of Emperor Antonio the first of the Second Mexican Empire

Rise of Emperor Antonio the first of the Second Mexican Empire
(Just playing around, it's very cliché I believe)
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In April 1853, Santa Anna was invited back by rebellious conservatives, with whom he succeeded in retaking the government.

On July 21, 1853 Santa Anna was crowned Emperor Antonio the first of the Second Mexican Empire (on the 51st anniversary of the first one), the 1853 constitution had elements pleasing to the conservatives and appeasing somewhat the liberals.

Many liberal laws protected individual rights, freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and the right to bear arms; Eliminated debtor prison, limitation of cruel punishment especially the death penalty.

The conservatives obtained the creation of the nobility of Empire but with little real privileges, while the Church was maintained in its existing rights.

The liberals most argued dispositions were the informal reinstatement of slavery (The "Decree of Abolition of Slavery" of September 15, 1829 was never ratified), and the power of the church and nobility.

The state structure was changed to a more centralized form (state governors directly appointed by the Emperor, many states were divided), the Congress included an upper chamber elected by the nobility and a lower chamber elected by the people. Many structural aspects of the new Empire were inspired by the French and British Empires.

This early reign was much better than his earlier ones as he united the mexican people under the idea of regaining the northern territories lost during the Mexican-American war (1846-1848).

On February 2nd, 1854 (six years after the signature of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo with the USA), the Emperor sent an ultimatum to the USA, either they would return the lands of Upper California and New Mexico, or pay $30 million (thereby more than doubling the initial payment).

On March 3rd, 1854 the USA Senate ratified the “Decree of Reparation” giving the Mexican Empire 10 million a year for three years, on the condition of border modifications to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, to include lands south for the southern railway (similar to OTL Gadsden Purchase).

As most of the money was used for the army, the nobility, the church and the Emperor himself, the Mexican people were both dissatisfied by what was felt like a second cession.
The rebellion sprung on January 1857 when the Emperor raised taxes once the USA money stopped flowing.

By February 1857 the Second Republic of the Rio Grande (former states of Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas), the Republic of Greater Sonora (former Baja California, Chihuahua and Sonora) and the states of Yucatan, Tabasco and Chiapas declared independence, the three latter joining the Central American League (loose confederation created in 1856 as a limited resurgence of the former United Provinces of Central America).

In April 1857 Benito Juarez managed a coup and declared the Mexican Federation, the Emperor fled to Cuba and offers the repayment of debts in exchange for European troops, while loyal forces fought against Juarez.

In August 1857 as the mainly French troops arrived with the Mexican Emperor, the Northern rebelled states asked for annexation by the USA with guarantees regarding the Spanish language.

By March 1859 Juarez’s troops had lost control of the main parts of the Mexican Federation and Antonio the first reclaimed his thrown. As he was then flanked by the USA troops in the North and CAL troops in the south he was urged by France to break a deal.

By August 1859 the Emperor recognized the annexation of Rio Grande and Greater Sonora and sold the Tehuantepec state to the USA for theoretically $120 million. Of the 120, 30 were considered already paid in 1854, 40 would be paid directly to France the remaining 50 would be paid during the next five years at the rate of 10 million per year.

No treaties settle the issues with the CAL but the Emperor troops have enough trouble stabilizing the core of the Empire to bother with lands east of the Tehuantepec isthmus.

In the USA the newly annexed states are disbanded into territories and later reorganized; in 1861 Abraham Lincoln passes a federal law banning slavery from territories and newly created states, this first step to emancipation puts the USA in a certain turmoil, but leads to a progressive bane of slavery in the next 40 years even slave states one at a time.
 
Why would the US let itself be pushed around by the Mexicans? They had defeated Mexico 6 years previously, so why would they just give in? If Mexico threatened war if the Us didn't return the territory, the US would laugh and get the Army ready. In fact, the President might actually prefer to go to war, hoping for a short victorious war to get the North and South to set aside their differences, at least temporarily.

Also, the US would not let the French into North America. They only got into Mexico OTL because the US was wrapped up in its civil war. The Monroe Doctrine was over 30 years old at this point, and the US was getting powerful enough to enforce it on its own.

Also, the US would not pay 120 million for northern Mexico. We only paid 15 million in 1848, and that was for a third of Mexico. Granted, the US had occupied Mexico City, but still, 120 million would be too much.

Also, the whole premise of bringing back Santa Anna 6 years after he brought Mexico into one of its greatest humiliations isn't likely at all. I would like to hear your reasoning behind that.
 
Also, the whole premise of bringing back Santa Anna 6 years after he brought Mexico into one of its greatest humiliations isn't likely at all. I would like to hear your reasoning behind that.
Interesting concept. You would have to go a bit more indepth for why Santa Anna was brought back, but this is very interesting.

Also its unlikely the US would bow for Mexicans.
 
Why would the US let itself be pushed around by the Mexicans? They had defeated Mexico 6 years previously, so why would they just give in? If Mexico threatened war if the Us didn't return the territory, the US would laugh and get the Army ready. In fact, the President might actually prefer to go to war, hoping for a short victorious war to get the North and South to set aside their differences, at least temporarily.

In this TL negociators sent by the USA realized that Santa Anna did not in fact want war, but just money and they decided to ask for a revision of the border (equivalent to Gadsden purchase) in USA favor and pay the amount asked.
The first war was very unpopular from the US liberal perspective, so they tried to avoid a second one, as i've read, and as the cession was clearly a rip off, I made them agree to pay more...


Also, the US would not let the French into North America. They only got into Mexico OTL because the US was wrapped up in its civil war. The Monroe Doctrine was over 30 years old at this point, and the US was getting powerful enough to enforce it on its own.

That is why in this TL they annexed the northern independant states of Mexico and pressured to get France out as quickly as possible, and Santa Anna back on the throne.

Also, the US would not pay 120 million for northern Mexico. We only paid 15 million in 1848, and that was for a third of Mexico. Granted, the US had occupied Mexico City, but still, 120 million would be too much.

I read that during the Gadsden purchase figures like 50 million were planed to buy Baja California, so I tried to find a good figure for both the north and the Ithmus.

Also, the whole premise of bringing back Santa Anna 6 years after he brought Mexico into one of its greatest humiliations isn't likely at all. I would like to hear your reasoning behind that.

The first line of my TL is OTL... if you are talking about that...
 
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Blue-gray territories gained by USA.
Grayish-pink republics joining the CAL.

Year 1859

Rump SME.png
 
While, having Santa Anna back on the throne in this way would have been bad news for Mexico and its territorial integrity, I do have beef about an early item in your timeline.

You say that Mexico gave the US an ultimatum demanding a further 30 million dollars, which the administration and Congress agreed to in return for what was essentially the Gadsden Purchase. While not quiet ASB, this would not have happened. Had Mexico given the US and ultimatum in this fashion Congress almost certainly would have demanded that President Pierce send an even more sternly worded replying saying saying basically..."Unless you want Winfield Scott and the US Army in Mexico City again, shove it up your you know what!"

Yes, the US wanted more land in northern Mexico but tying it to a renegotiation of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo would have been a non-starter. The expansionists in Congress felt that Mexico had been let off to easily and the anti-war people loathed getting any more land that may have been open to the spread of slavery. Thus, if Pierce had even entertained the idea he would have been attacked by both factions, albeit for differing reasons. Perhaps if Mexico had quietly approached the administration without an ultimatum and offered some land for sale it would have been palatable to the American public, but in that case Santa Anna would have just ended up like the Gadsden Purchase of OTL.

Most likely an ultimatum like demand would have led to a series of nasty communiques, increased tensions and a strong US military presence along the border. And when war is avoided by way of a humiliating loss of face for the new Emperor we'll be left with Antonio in a much weakened position and an America far more willing to give aid and assistance to William Walker and any efforts to relieve Mexico of its "disputed" northern territories.

Benjamin
 
I agree with Benjamin. Might I add the Ostend Manifesto, which advocated territorial expansion for slaveholding states and Mexico is a pretty good option for that. I just have hard time with the beginning. Even though I consider Pierce a weak President, he was in the Mexican War and would have gladly slapped them again, owing to his doughface leanings I bet he would listen to calls for annexation more seriously than Polk did.


As a side note the ambassador who negotiated Guadlupe-Hidalgo ignored the wishes of Polk who wanted more of Mexico I believe his demands included the 3 northern territories.
 
Thanks for all your remarks...

If an ultimatum is to harsh, I suppose that Santa Anna must ask for reparations, and the US say okay but only if we can redraw those unpractical borders and Santa Anna says ok, keeping quiet to the public the redrawing and US paying 3 times more than OTL, but getting more later on...


Side note :

In April 1857 Benito Juarez declared the Mexican Federation and recognized the independance of the RG, GS and Y, T, C ; considering that these territories should be left a choice to stay part of Mexico or not, and that they could always reintegrate his Mexican Federation once it is federalized truely.
 
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Thanks for all your remarks...

If an ultimatum is to harsh, I suppose that Santa Anna must ask for reparations, and the US say okay but only if we can redraw those unpractical borders and Santa Anna says ok, keeping quiet to the public the redrawing and US paying 3 times more than OTL, but getting more later on...

Just be careful that it doesn't become a replay of OTL Gadsden Purchase.

The Pierce Administration had authorized up to $15 million be spent on the Gadsden plot, and up to $50 million for a much bigger acquisition that included much of northern Sonora, Chihuahua and all of Baja. The only problem for you is to find a way for Santa Anna to do this while remaining in power after wards. He wasn't talented enough to do so and he was soon deposed again.

Good luck.

Benjamin
 
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