1812-1815: Rise of the Mexican Republic
Not long after his inauguration, President Guadalupe Victoria set about establishing his style of Mexican society. Though there was initial talk of political rival and friendly opponent Vicente Guerrero launching his own independent, liberation campaigns, private negotiations between him and the President led to an end of such talk. Guerror was promptly named Minister of War. The national spending on research and education were set to be quite high, with a focus on refining the established bureacracy to better represent the Mexican people.
The complete transformation of Mexican society, however, was still to come. It was not long before Victoria announced the end of slavery and separation of church and state in his first public speech since the election, saying, "slavery was a tool of empire, not of people..." and that "God has his hand in the private lives of man, not in their government". Though supported by most of the general population, some were outraged. A coalition of plantation owners through central Mexico responded to the loss of slave labor with violent revolt, riling up some white settlers to join their cause. Many former slaves continued to work for their masters, now paid meagre wages in place of nothing. Though many devout Catholics were calmed by speeches on peace made by Don Hidalgo himself, some rose in opposition among the desolate Colorado territory, led by the militant Father Gabriel Estanza. The priest declared Victoria a heretic and agent of the devil, with aims to establish his own "God-fearing" nation beneath the Rocky Mountains.
Before responding to these political uprisings with military force, President Victoriaa hoped to ensure popular support was behind him. A focus was placed on improving the economic flow throughout all of Mexico by building government-sponsored markets, lighthouses, grocers and harbours, with an emphasis placed on funding poorer cities such as Merida.
Workers were also sent to improve the lax infrastructure of Central Mexico, opening up new jobs at the mines, pastures and farms this led to. Many former slaves and Mestizos were able to find work at such establishments.
With the people of Mexico behind him, President Victoria was ready to turn the Army on those who had risen against him. Two forces were sent out, led by General Guerrero, and the Minister of Justice, Martin Javier Mina. Mina's troops struck the Creoles and Peninsulares outside of Hermosillo, who opposed the end of slavery. The muskets and disorganized leadership of the uprising stood no chance against the trained Mexican army, and the plantations were soon overwhelmed by brute force.
Guerrero had more experience in warfare, and was thus sent to deal with the better equipped former Spaniards encamped outside of Monterrey. The Mexican Army had training and numbers, leading to an easy victory over the last of the slavers. Guerrero continued north, on his way to deal with Father Estanza's commune, leaving a few regiments behind to keep the peace.
Hoping to put pressure on Spain to support further independence movements, as well as curb the ambitions of the United States, President Victoria met with diplomats representing the Bourbon King of France towards the end of 1812. Their negotiations resulted in a defensive pact between the two nations. Victoria had swallowed his pride and opposition to empires in order to ensure Mexico, if pressed into war by Spain or attacked by the United States, would have a great power on their side.
By 1813, Father Estanza's militants had grown restless in their isolated compound. While many of his supporters remained to protect their "sovereign territory", Estanza led his riders and converted soldiers towards Santa Fe and Nuevo Mexico, hoping to rally recruits and raid what they could, intending to show Victoria's weakness.
General Guerrero's troops soon arrived in Colorado, splitting off into two groups: one to storm and destroy the barely defended Estanza compound, and the other to capture the priest himself. The compound itself lacked fortifications, and was quickly overwhelmed.
Father Estanza and his riders were soon surrounded by the more mobile Mexican army, and ultimately attacked near Santa Fe. Few men surrendered, and most fought to the death. Estanza himself was captured, and brought to Santa Fe for his execution as traitor. Before being hanged, the Father screamed out "Vive Dios!" to the crowd. Most did not respond to his cry, angered by his harassment of the local ranchers and laborers.
Barely a year had passed since the uprisings had began, and now they had ended. Guadalupe Victoria could now turn his attention to the more ambitious promises of his campaign. Specifically, his plans to curb American expansionism on the continent, and bring an end to their "Manifest Destiny".
Many veterans of the rebellions, however, retired to peacekeeping positions in the military, maintaining the safety of Mexican cities.
Preparing for war, Victoria made deals with the Austrian Habsburgs whose cousins ruled in Spain. In exchange for up to date cartographic knowledge, sciences of chemistry, specifically the components of grenades, were sold to Austria-Hungary, whose landlocked nature left them unlikely to use such technology against Mexico itself.
In a distinct act of aggression, the President began to mass Mexican troops alongside the Mexican-American border, planning to launch an invasion of the American Missouri Territory. The territory was largely underpopulated, only American by claim. The American President and public ignored President Victoria's clear hostility, naively believing their common background as colonies evolving into republics ensured cooperation, despite America's greater wealth and evident desires to dominate the continent.
