Juarez Essay
Juarez
The movie Juarez, starring Paul Muni, Bette Davis, Brian Aherne and Claude Rains,
has the perfect story line. There s action, love, violence and heartbreak, but most
importantly, it brings attention to a piece of history that is rarely recognized:
monarchs in Mexico. Louis Napoleon III of France, played by Claude Rains, saw the
American Civil War as an opportunity to advance the French government. Louis
wanted to establish French influence in Mexico, which he knew was against the
Monroe Doctrine. He took advantage of the fact that America was in a weak state
due to the war, and could therefore not intervene as per the Monroe Doctrine. In the
film, he discusses with his wife, Empress Eugenie, about who should fulfill the duty
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Although Maximilian had many supporters, it was not enough to fight against the
Mexican Republicans and Benito Juarez. On several occasions in the movie,
Maximilian was asked to step down from his position as emperor and allow
Mexico to go back to its former democracy. Juarez sent messengers as well as
letters, and the final letter he sent mentioned a threat of Maximilian s blood
spilling if he did not oblige. Maximilian would not step down and insisted he was
doing what he was sent there to do. As the Civil War in the United States ended,
the United States was finally able to help Mexico fight against the French. This led
to a weakening of the French presence in Mexico and eventually Napoleon decided
to pull out his troops. Napoleon was very persistent in his efforts of getting
Maximilian to leave Mexico, and almost succeeded, but not before Carlotta could
go back to France and beg him to change his mind, and instead support the
monarchy. Napoleon would not budge on his decision and Maximilian gave in
and wrote his letter of abdication. When Maximilian read his letter to his soldiers,
they were extremely upset and General Mejia, who was an Indian and never
showed emotion, cried. Colonel Lopez protested Maximilian s abdication and told
him that if he left, it was surely a death sentence for all of them. Maximilian could
not allow the men who had loved and supported him, to die for him after he had
gone, so he decided to stay and stand