During the 1850s, the ongoing and passionate battle between the Liberals and Conservatives spilled into Jalisco. From 1855 to 1864, Jalisco's government witnessed eighteen transfers of power. One of the key issues was the role of the Catholic Church and the separation of church and state. The Liberals viewed the Church as their staunch opponent and as the conservatives' political and economic supporter. In effect, Liberal advocates sought to reduce influence of the Church. 


Then, with the adoption of a Liberal-based constitution in January 1857, the Conservative/Liberal conflict evolved into a full-scale civil war, referred to as the War of the Reform. With the resignation of President

Comonfort, Liberal leader Benito Juárez had become Acting President of the Mexican Republic. However, Conservative forces moved quickly to attack Juárez in Mexico City. As a result, Juárez was forced to flee to Guadalajara.

Then, on March 20, 1858, faced with the imminent arrival of Conservative forces, Benito Juárez and his Liberal forces were forced to flee Guadalajara. Soon he would arrive in Veracruz, where he set up his government. Reaching its peak in June and July of 1859, the War of the Reform paralyzed the economy of Jalisco. A large segment of southern Jalisco, including Guadalajara, was devastated, leading to a mass migration of middle class persons. Of the thirty most important battles of the War of the Reform, twelve took place on Jalisco's territory.

On January 12,1861 Lieutenant Pierre Ledoux, led a  reconnaissance mission through Jalisco. The French Guard was under the leadership of Major General Charles Ferdinand Latrille, Comte de Lorencez. The Lieutenenate met a family in the small village of Templo. The two boys of the family, Juan Francisco Zuñigo Placencia and Eduardo Antonio Zuñigo

Placencia were very bright and had quite a charm them. The Lieutenant consulted the boy’s parents. An offer was made to take one of the boys back to France for an opportunity of education and world consciousness. A life, the Lieutenant assured the parents, the boy would not obtain in such a land of Mexico. The parents pondered the idea and decided to be unselfish and let the young Lieutenant guide the oldest son, Eduardo, to his new life.

Upon arrival back in Veracruz the Guard introduced young Eduardo to the Major General. The peaceful, well mannered and intelligent boy shined before the commander. The General then notified his staff that he would personally escort the boy back to France and see to it that he is given an aristocrat upbringing that would lead to full scholarships into the best schools in Europe. The general also changed his name for purposes of better acceptance to, Sullivan de la Fayette.
 
With the end of the War of the Reform and the return of Juárez to Mexico City in 1861, Mexico faced a French invasion. The French, invited to Mexico by the Conservatives, moved - against great resistance - to

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