Final answer:
England, Spain, and France invaded Mexico due to political opportunism, economic interests, and historical rivalries. Spain aimed to regain its former colony while France, under Napoleon III, sought to establish a French empire in the Americas during the U.S. Civil War. These invasions were influenced by strategic, economic, and expansionist motivations.
Step-by-step explanation:
England, Spain, and France decided to invade Mexico due to a mix of political opportunism, economic interests, and historical rivalries.
In 1829, Spain attempted to retake Mexico after the country gained independence, but their invasion failed. This effort was driven by Spain's ambition to regain control over its former colony and restore its colonial empire. The Spanish Conquistadors exploited opportunities provided by the chaos and weakness in native societies, originally aligning with indigenous groups and taking advantage of diseases like smallpox which devastated local populations, ultimately allowing them to take over capital cities and insert themselves into power.
In contrast, France, under the rule of Napoleon III, saw the American Civil War as a chance to establish a French empire in the Americas. In 1861, a French fleet took Veracruz and moved to capture Mexico City, though initially defeated in 1862, they eventually succeeded in establishing a regime that lasted until 1867. The rationale for these European interventions often involved strategic positioning, access to resources, and the desire to expand or restore empire.