pendent Mexican city of Veracruz. The city�s defense against the attack earned it its first title of �Heroic City.� During the Pastry War in 1837, the city mounted a defense against a French attack, and earned its second title of "Heroic City."
In 1847, during the Mexican�American War, United States forces invaded the city. It was defended by generals Juan Morales and Jos� Juan de Landero, but they were forced to surrender a few days later. The government of Mexico recognized Veracruz with a third title of �Heroic City.�
Ten years later, civil war between liberals and conservatives forced Benito Ju�rez�s government to flee the capital of Mexico City. Ju�rez went to Veracruz and governed from there in 1857. In the 1860s, Spain sent its troops to occupy the port in an effort to secure payment of debts, which Ju�rez had suspended. French military forces accompanied Maximiliano I and occupied the city when the emperor and his wife Carlota of Belgium arrived in 1864.
The conflicts and damaged trade relations with Europe took its toll on the port of Veracruz. By 1902, the port facilities had deteriorated and it was considered one of the most dangerous on the American coast. President Porfirio D�az contracted with foreign enterprises to modernize the port�s infrastructure.
In 1914, during the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920), the US attacked and occupied the port in an effort to try to preserve trade. The city gained its fourth title of "Heroic City".
After the Revolution, most port workers became unionized. Through most of the 20th century, federal and state legal and political initiatives intended to better workers� lives had effects on the operations of the port. Eventually, unions came to have great power over the operations and tariffs charged. By the latter part of the 20th century, competing unions made the operations of the port difficult. Some blocked access to the port from federal roads and financial corruption was a problem
