Chapter 7

THE EVOLUTION OF MODERN MEXICO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

Monarchical _regime_ of Iturbide--Great area of Mexican Empire--Santa Anna--The Holy Alliance--Execution of Iturbide--The Monroe Doctrine-- British friendship--The United States--Masonic institutions--Political parties--Expulsion of Spaniards--Revolution and crime--Clerical antagonism--Foreign complications--The "pie-war"--The Texan war--The slavery question--Mexican valour--American invasion of Mexico--Fall of Mexico--Treaty of Guadalupe--Cession of California--Gold in California--Benito Juarez appears--Conservatives and Liberals--Massacre of Tacubaya--The Reform laws--Disestablishment of the Church--Dishonest Mexican finance--Advent of Maximilian--The English, Spanish, and French expedition--Perfidy of the French--Capture of Mexico City by the French--Crowning of Maximilian--Porfirio Diaz--Rule of Maximilian--Fall of his empire--Death of Maximilian--The tragedy of Queretaro--Diaz takes Mexico City--Presidency of Juarez--Lerdo--Career and character of Diaz--First railways built--Successful administration of Diaz-- Political stability--Forward policy.