the rule of the imperialists in france prompted the appointment of maximilian, archduke of austria, as emperor of mexico, supported by the french army. the americans, still sore and in debt at the heels of their own war, pitied the helpless mexicans, and, acting on the principles enunciated in the monroe doctrine, demanded the recall of maximilian, who, deserted finally by his foreign abettors, was defeated and as a prisoner shot by the mexicans, june 19, 1867.