French intervention in Mexico

French intervention in Mexico (1861-1867) was when France, under Emperor Napoleon III, invaded Mexico and aimed to establish a friendly monarchy, installing Emperor Maximilian I. Mexico was financially unstable and unable to fulfill its debt obligations to European countries, prompting France, along with Spain and Britain, to send troops to pressure Mexico. However, France's goal shifted, and it imposed a monarchy while Mexico's republican government resisted. After several years of conflict, Mexican forces led by Benito Juárez defeated the French, restoring the republic and ending the monarchy. The intervention highlighted European interests in Latin America and Mexico’s resilience.