Cinco de Mayo
The "Cinco de Mayo" celebration commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza. The Battle was important because 4,000 Mexican soldiers defeated a much better-equipped French army composed of 8,000 men that had not been defeated for almost 50 years.
In 1862, the Mexican army defeated France’s forces at the Battle of Puebla. This battle was one of many such altercations that took place during the Franco-Mexican War, which ran from 1861-1867. The war was caused by a financial conflict. Mexican President Benito Juárez took over the country in 1861, but Mexico was deeply in debt. When Mexico defaulted on debts it owed in Europe, French leader Napoleon III decided to annex part of Mexico in retaliation. On July 17, 1861, President Benito Juarez issued a moratorium in which all-foreign debt payments would be suspended for a period of two years, with the promise that after this period, payments would resume. In 1862, the three European countries dispatched their fleets to Mexican shores pursuing not only money but also land an rights as payment for their loans. A government representative greeted them and explained that Mexico did acknowledge its debts, but it had no funds to pay them. They were offered payment warrants in exchange.
The Spaniards and the British decided to accept the warrants and withdrew from the scene. But the French government’s representative did not accept the offer and prompted his troops to invade the country and head toward Mexico City, the nation’s capital. They had to cross through the state of Puebla to get to the capital. The Mexican President, Benito Juarez, reacted immediately and prepared the defense. He commanded Ignacio Zaragoza , a young and brave General, to fortify the City of Puebla and repel the French invaders.
The Battle of Puebla took place at Puebla de Los Angeles, located in Eastern Mexico. The
In 1862, the Mexican army defeated France’s forces at the Battle of Puebla. This battle was one of many such altercations that took place during the Franco-Mexican War, which ran from 1861-1867. The war was caused by a financial conflict. Mexican President Benito Juárez took over the country in 1861, but Mexico was deeply in debt. When Mexico defaulted on debts it owed in Europe, French leader Napoleon III decided to annex part of Mexico in retaliation. On July 17, 1861, President Benito Juarez issued a moratorium in which all-foreign debt payments would be suspended for a period of two years, with the promise that after this period, payments would resume. In 1862, the three European countries dispatched their fleets to Mexican shores pursuing not only money but also land an rights as payment for their loans. A government representative greeted them and explained that Mexico did acknowledge its debts, but it had no funds to pay them. They were offered payment warrants in exchange.
The Spaniards and the British decided to accept the warrants and withdrew from the scene. But the French government’s representative did not accept the offer and prompted his troops to invade the country and head toward Mexico City, the nation’s capital. They had to cross through the state of Puebla to get to the capital. The Mexican President, Benito Juarez, reacted immediately and prepared the defense. He commanded Ignacio Zaragoza , a young and brave General, to fortify the City of Puebla and repel the French invaders.
The Battle of Puebla took place at Puebla de Los Angeles, located in Eastern Mexico. The