Definition of Cake War

The so-called War of the Cakes was the first episode of warfare between Mexico and France. It took place between April 1838 and March 1839.

Pre-conflict context

From the independence of Mexico, the following years were very turbulent both economically and socially. Mexican society was experiencing a period of great instability, particularly at the borders where smuggling was very common due to the lack of surveillance at customs. The weakness Mexico was an incentive for the great powers, especially for France.

It must be considered that at that time there was high population French in Mexico and its commercial activities were affected by the instability of the country. In this sense, an owner of a pastry shop in the town of Tacubaya claimed the government mexican one compensation economical when your establishment It was occupied by the Mexican military who ended up destroying the premises. This apparently unimportant episode was what triggered a conflict diplomat between Mexico and France.

In this context, the Mexican press called the war conflict the War of the Cakes.

Initiation and development of the conflict

At the beginning of 1838, a French fleet made up of several warships arrived at the port of Veracruz with the intention to pressure the Mexican government to pay the economic claim demanded by the pastry chef French. On the other hand, France was pressuring the Mexican government to allow a commercial treaty that favored the interests of the French.

The government of General Bustamante did not accept these claims and constraints, as it was considered an offense to national sovereignty. The French reacted and imposed an iron naval blockade on the coasts of the Gulf of Mexico and as a consequence of this, commercial activity in the main ports was paralyzed.

The French government believed that the Mexicans could not withstand the economic blockade, since the income prosecutors of the nation they came mainly from the commercial activity of foreign companies.

Despite the economic instability that occurred, the Mexican government faced the blockade for eight months and this circumstance forced the French to send new war squads

The French troops landed in the city of Veracruz, but the Mexican army was able to resist the attacks.

The military confrontation drew the attention of the international community and the British sent a mediator to pacify the conflict. The French and the Mexicans accepted British mediation and negotiations began to reach the peace.

The Mexican government accepted the payment of some economic claims to the French, but did not accept the proposal of a special commercial agreement as intended by the French government. The conditions were agreed and finally a peace treaty was signed in the city of Veracruz.

Photo: Fotolia - artenz118