The History of Cinco de Mayo
Contrary to popular belief, the 5th of May is not Mexican Independence
Day. Mexico actually declared its independence from Spain on midnight,
the 15th of September, 1810, nearly sixty years later. So what happened
on the morning of May 5, 1862 to cause Mexicans and countless Americans
as well, to celebrate this day? The Battle of Puebla.
Things weren't easy for the fledgling country after gaining its
independence from Spain. The Mexican-American War (1846-1848), the
Mexican Civil War of 1858, as well as many internal political uprisings
and conflicts had left Mexico's economy severely depleted. In order
to give his country time to gain financial stability, President
Benito Juarez issued a two year moratorium on foreign debt payments
on July 17, 1861, promising to resume payments after this period.
The English, Spanish and French didn't want to give Mexico the
time to regroup, and instead invaded the country to get payments
by whatever means necessary. While the Spanish and English eventually
withdrew, the French remained with the goals of establishing an
empire in Mexico under Napolean III. The French also had their eyes
on the U.S. and sought to aid Southern rebels in the Civil War.
And so it came that one of the war's earliest, but most significant
battles, took place on May 5, 1862 when the French Army was defeated
by a small rag-tag army of 5000 Mestizo and Zapotec Indians under
the command of General Ignacio Zaragoza. While not Mexican Independence
Day, the fifth of May represented a significant victory for the
Mexican people. After the end of the U.S. Civil war, the Union sent
weapons and ammunition to the Mexican army and many Union soldiers
joined to fight to defeat the French.
Ironically the holiday has gained a wider popularity with Chicanos
in the United States than it enjoys in Mexico, with the exception
of the region of Puebla. Cinco de Mayo festivals typically include
plenty of great food and drink as well as music, dance and Mexican
culture.
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