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Cinco de Mayo
The celebration of Cinco de Mayo (literally, the 5th of May)
is not, as many people mistakenly think, Mexico's Independence Day (which is in
reality September 16th). It actually is a commemoration of the Mexican militia
over the French army at The Battle of Puebla in 1862. It is primarily
celebrated in the State of Puebla in Mexico and has limited recognition in
other parts of the country.
The battle of Puebla occurred during a volatile period in
Mexican history. Mexico had gained its independence from Spain in 1821 after a
particularly difficult struggle. Afterward, several wars, including the
Mexican-American War (1846-1848) and the Mexican Civil War (1858), along with
internal political squabbles had laid waste to the Mexican economy.
Mexico owed substantial debt to a number of nations
including England, France, and Spain who were all demanding payment. Their debt
to the United Stated had been settled after the Mexican-American War. France
used the debt issue to try and expand their empire and establish their own
leadership in Mexico. When Mexico failed to make debt payments, France
appointed Archduke Maximilian of Austria (a relative of Napoleon III) as the
ruler of Mexico. French troops invaded Mexico from the Gulf of Mexico near
Veracruz and began an advance toward Mexico City (roughly 600 miles away). The
American government (under the command of President Lincoln) were unable to
provide assistance since the U.S. Civil War was being fought and demanded all
its resources.
Before reaching Mexico City, on May 5, 1862 the French
troops ran into fierce resistance near Puebla. There, at the Mexican forts of
Loreto and Guadalupe, General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin used his poorly armed
force of 4,500 troops to defeat the larger French force of 6,500 men. This was
a huge boost for Mexican patriotism and is the reason for the modern
celebration of this date.
This did not bode well in the longer term. An enraged
Napoleon III sent an additional 30,000 French troops who were able to defeat
the Mexican Army and install Maximilian as the ruler of Mexico.
The French rule was also brief, lasting only from 1864-1867.
With the end of the U.S. Civil War, American began providing military
assistance to Mexico. Maximilian was eventually executed by the Mexicans and
his bullet riddled shirt is on display at Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City.
The holiday is mostly a regional holiday in Mexico (mostly
in the state of Puebla). The promotion of the holiday in the U.S. is mostly a
masterstroke of marketing by several commercial interests (think beer
distributors).
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