WI: Mexico tries to retake Texas during the US civil war

Japan had a history of sucker-punching larger powers and getting a peace treaty immediately for various reasons. In the Russo-Japanese War Russia was too distracted by internal issues to stay in. In World War 1 Germany was, well obvious really.

They expected the same thing to happen based on their history, that the U.S. Would be unwilling to prosecute a war half a world away for islands no one had heard of. So basically, from their perspective the attacks DID make logical sense, far more than an invasion of the U.S. By Mexico ever could.


Particularly since the Mexican-American war was in living memory and it didn't go well for Mexico.
 
Maximilian's best chance might be to offer Sonora and Chihuahua up for sale in 1864 or focus on uniting the nation by moving into Central America. Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras would not be difficult to take, Nicaragua is still recovering from her recent forays, and Costa Rica alone can do little. The fruit and coffee from said locale would stabilize Mexico, more importantly a competent, less corrupt government would see Mexico go much farther by 1910 than it did for industrialization in OTL.
 
With earlier POD, where civil war does not happen, or is won very quickly...
Rather than invade Texas, have Emperor Maximilian invade and annex California.
Then he is fighting against USA, on the same side as CSA.
Empire is already hated by the USA, who were just waiting for the end of their own Civil War to overthrow him, so strategic alliance with the CSA makes sense. Pre-emptive attack.
 

Lateknight

Banned
With earlier POD, where civil war does not happen, or is won very quickly...
Rather than invade Texas, have Emperor Maximilian invade and annex California.
Then he is fighting against USA, on the same side as CSA.
Empire is already hated by the USA, who were just waiting for the end of their own Civil War to overthrow him, so strategic alliance with the CSA makes sense. Pre-emptive attack.

If The Mexican civil didn't happen Mexico wouldn't have emperor.
 
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