05/05/2022
Often confused for Mexican Independence Day, Cinco de Mayo is the celebration of the victory over France in the battle of Puebla.
European countries attacked Mexico because it was broke. Mexico decided to stop paying the tens of millions of dollars it owed to Spain, France, and Britain. This prompted all three nations to set sail to demand payment in person.
When they arrived both Spain, and Britain negotiated with Mexico and promptly left. France decided to stay to establish a monarchy and to curb the power that the U.S had in North America.
On May 4th, 1862 6,000 French troops set out toward the small town of Puebla located in east-central Mexico. Confident that they had a sure victory it is said they didn’t even properly prepare their artillery. In Puebla 2,000 ragtag men led by Texas born Ignacio Zaragoza fortified the town and prepared for battle.
The battle lasted from dawn until dusk on May 5th. The French finally retreated and had lost nearly 500 soldiers. The Mexican army lost fewer than 100.
This victory slowed but didn’t stop the French. An infuriated French emperor Napoleon the 3rd ordered almost an additional 30,000 troops be sent to Mexico. This time around they were able to easily take over Puebla and conquer Mexico City. The French eventually decided to end their occupation in Mexico in 1866.
