Benito Juárez elected President of Mexico and the foreign debt moratorium

Background. La Reforma began with the overthrow of Santa Anna in 1855. The Constitution of 1857 curtailed the Catholic Church's powers and granted religious freedom. The Plan of Tacubaya led to a conservative coup in 1858, creating a parallel government. This conflict resulted in the War of Reform (1857–1861), which polarized the nation's politics. The liberal victory in this war is a common starting date for the period.

Election. As a Liberal victory approached, Juárez issued a decree on 6 November 1860, fixing the date of presidential and congressional elections for the following January. The newly elected congress was scheduled to meet on 19 February. General elections were held in Mexico in 1861. Juárez served as the 26th president of Mexico from 1858 until his death in 1872.

Debt Moratorium. Juárez issued a decree in 1861 suspending foreign debts. This action gave France a pretext to send troops to Mexico, as Napoleon III had previously been skeptical of offending the United States through the violation of the Monroe Doctrine. The outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861 rendered this concern null.