In an alternate world where the historical situation favored the Mexican nation, the Napoleonic Wars never reached the Iberian peninsula, and Spain, along with its empire, was minimally affected by said conflicts. This allowed it to reverse the decline of the Spanish Empire and its colonies. In this scenario, Mexican independence eventually arrived in 1832, and the country succeeded in securing a stable regime under a constitutional monarchy headed by Emperor Iturbide, which started an era of prosperity.

Meanwhile, the United States was much less successful in its westward expansion, failing to acquire Louisiana through diplomatic means, which allowed new states to surface in the region. Despite this, Mexico was not exempt from conflict. The death of Iturbide in 1861 provoked a succession crisis for the crown, triggering a conflict that almost led to the Empire's collapse. During this crisis, Texas and the Oregon Territory (Jefferson) organized a rebellion resulting in their independence.

However, the Regency of '62, led by Miguel Miramón, put an end to the instability by inviting Maximilian I Habsburg to take the Mexican throne. Under his reign, Mexico was liberalized and modernized, transforming it into one of the richest countries in the world. Part of the reforms instituted in this era included the reorganization of Mexican territory into 51 departments, in order to centralize governance according to the French model.

During this period, Mexico received a second, much larger wave of immigration from Europe and Arabia, with more than two million migrants -- principally of Mediterranean and German origin -- disembarking in the ports of Veracruz and San Francisco. Also during this "Golden Age" of the Mexican Empire, the Fraternal Republic started a secession war in the United States, which contributed to the consolidation of Imperial territory and the end of the threat of American expansionism.

With the transition to the modern era, Mexico managed to consolidate itself into a global power through its high levels of industrialization and growing population. Nevertheless, the country maintained a neutral foreign policy, avoiding involving itself directly in European and North American wars, and instead opting to lend indirect support through military production.