North America 1858: Mexican Reform War

Political map of North America & the Caribbean on 29 Sep 1858 (Manifest Destiny: Mexican Reform War), showing the following events: Utah War; Conservative coup in Mexico; Mexican Liberals back Juárez; Minnesota becomes US state; Pike’s Peak Gold Rush; Colony of British Columbia.

In Mexico, the antagonism between the reform-minded Liberal Party and the Conservatives, backed by landowners and the Catholic Church, erupted into civil war in 1858 when a Conservative coup overthrew the Liberal government. Despite this setback, the Liberals had popular support and control of the critical port of Veracruz, leading the Conservative regime to bankruptcy and collapse two years later.

Main Events

18 Jul 1857–26 Jun 1858 Utah War

United States government sent a military expedition into the Mormon-dominated Utah Territory to enforce a change of governor.in wikipedia

11 Jan 1858 Conservative coup in Mexico

Conservative General Jose de la Parra seized control in Mexico City.in wikipedia

19 Jan 1858 Mexican Liberals back Juárez

Benito Juárez reached Guanajuato and was recognized as the legitimate president of Mexico by the Liberal Party.in wikipedia

11 May 1858 Minnesota becomes US state

The eastern portion of the Minnesota Territory was admitted to the US as the state of Minnesota.in wikipedia

? Jul 1858–? Feb 1861 Pike’s Peak Gold Rush

Gold strikes in Pike’s Peak Country of western Kansas Territory and southwestern Nebraska Territory of the United States encouraged roughly 100,000 prospectors to travel to what is now Colorado.in wikipedia

2 Aug 1858 Colony of British Columbia

Responding to an influx of gold miners, British Colonel Richard Clement Moody, Commander of the Royal Engineers, Columbia Detachment, founded the Crown Colony of British Columbia to replace what had been the District of New Caledonia. Moody became first Lieutenant-Governor of the new colony, founding its capital city of New Westminster after facing down rebellious American miners.in wikipedia