368 
HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES 
other events of Johnson’s administration require notice. One of 
these was our intervention in the affairs of Mexico. In 1861 
France, England, and Spain, acting together, sent an armed 
torce to Mexico to hold her seaports until certain debts were 
paid. But England and Spain soon withdrew their troops, 
leaving France to act alone. The Emperor of France, Napoleon 
MIT, desired to establish the French power in Mexico. He ac- 
cordingly overthrew the Mexican government and made Maxi- 
milian, a brother of the Emperor of Austria, the Emperor of 
Mexico. All this, you will observe, was contrary to the Monroe 
Doctrine (p. 226). Still, at the time, the United States could 
Jo nothing but protest, for it had the Civil War on its hands. 
As soon as the war was over, however, General Sheridan, with 
a large army, was despatched to the Mexican frontier. France 
saw what was coming, and the French troops were at once 
withdrawn (in 1867) from Mexico. Maximilian fell into the 
1ands of the Mexicans and was promnptly shot. 
Alaska compared with the United States. 
if Alaska were placed in the United States, the northern boundary touching Canada, the south- 
east corner would reach the Atlantic Ocean and its jelande wanld reach the Pacifie 
Another important event of Johnson’s administration was the 
purchase of Alaska, which then belonged ic Russia. Just about 
the time the French troops were leaving Mexico, the Russian min-