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Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo has its roots in the French occupation of Mexico, which took place in the aftermath of
the Mexican–American War of 1846–48 and the 1858–61 Reform War. The Reform War was a civil
war and it pitted Liberals (who believed in separation of church and state and freedom of religion)
against the Conservatives (who favored a tight bond between the Roman Catholic Church and the
Mexican State). These wars left the Mexican Treasury nearly bankrupt. On July 17, 1861, Mexican
President Benito Juárez issued a moratorium in which all foreign debt payments would be suspended
for two years. In response, France, Britain, and Spain sent naval forces to Veracruz to demand
reimbursement. Britain and Spain negotiated with Mexico and withdrew, but France, at the time ruled
by Napoleon III, decided to use the opportunity to establish a Latin empire in Mexico that would favor
French interests, the Second Mexican Empire.
French invasion
Late in 1861, a well-armed French fleet stormed Veracruz, landing a large French force and driving
President Juárez and his government into retreat. Moving on from Veracruz towards Mexico City, the
French army encountered heavy resistance from the Mexicans close to Puebla, at the Mexican forts
of Loreto and Guadalupe. The 6,000-strong French army attacked the much smaller and poorly
equipped Mexican army of 2,000 Yet, on May 5, 1862, the Mexicans managed to decisively crush the
French army, then considered "the premier army in the world".
Mexican victory
The victory represented a significant morale boost to the Mexican army and the Mexican people at
large. In the description of The History Channel, "Although not a major strategic win in the overall war
against the French, Zaragoza's success at Puebla represented a great symbolic victory for the
Mexican government and bolstered the resistance movement." As Time magazine remarked, "The
Puebla victory came to symbolize unity and pride for what seemed like a Mexican David defeating a
French Goliath." It helped establish a much-needed sense of national unity and patriotism.
Significance
The Battle of Puebla was important for at least two reasons. First, although considerably
outnumbered, the Mexicans defeated a much better-equipped French army. This battle was
significant in that the 4,000 Mexican soldiers were greatly outnumbered by the well-equipped French
army of 8,000 that had not been defeated for almost 50 years. Second, since the Battle of Puebla, no
country in the Americas has subsequently been invaded by any other European military force.
The Battle of Puebla
The Battle of Puebla took place on 5 May 1862 near the city of Puebla during the French intervention
in Mexico. The battle ended in a victory for the Mexican Army over the occupying French forces. The
French eventually overran the Mexicans in subsequent battles, but the Mexican victory at Puebla
against a much better equipped and larger French army provided a significant morale boost to the
Mexican army and also helped slow the French army's advance towards Mexico City. More of an
emotional victory than a military one, to Mexicans the Battle of Puebla represents Mexican resolve
and bravery in the face of an overwhelming foe.
The Battle of Puebla was not an isolated incident: there is a long and complicated history that led up
to it. In 1857, the “Reform War” broke out in Mexico. It was a civil war and it pitted Liberals (who
believed in separation of church and state and freedom of religion) against the Conservatives (who
favored a tight bond between the Roman Catholic Church and the Mexican State). This brutal, bloody
war left the nation in shambles and bankrupt. When the war was over in 1861, Mexican President
Benito Juarez suspended all payment of foreign debt: Mexico simply did not have any money.
This angered Great Britain, Spain and France, countries which were owed a great deal of money. The
three nations agreed to work together to force Mexico to pay. The United States, which had
considered Latin America its “backyard” since the Monroe Doctrine (1823), was going through a Civil
War of its own and in no position to do anything about European intervention in Mexico.
In December 1861 armed forces of the three nations arrived off the coast of Veracruz and landed a
month later, in January 1862. Desperate last-minute diplomatic efforts by the Juarez administration
persuaded Britain and Spain that a war that would further devastate the Mexican economy was in no
one’s interest, and Spanish and British forces left with promise of future payment. France, however,
was unconvinced and French forces remained on Mexican soil.
Under the command of the Count of Lorencez, the French Army set out for Mexico City. When they
reached Orizaba, they held up for a while, as many of their troops had become ill. Meanwhile, an
army of Mexican regulars under the command of 33 year-old Ignacio Zaragoza marched to meet him.
The Mexican Army was about 4,500 men strong: the French numbered approximately 6,000 and
were much better armed and equipped than the Mexicans. The Mexicans occupied the city of Puebla
and its two forts, Loreto and Guadalupe.
On the morning of May 5, Lorencez moved to attack. He believed that Puebla would fall easily: his
incorrect information suggested that the garrison was much smaller than it really was and that the
people of Puebla would surrender easily rather than risk much damage to their city. He decided on a
direct assault, ordering his men to concentrate on the strongest part of the defense: Guadalupe
fortress, which stood on a hill overlooking the city. He believed that once his men had taken the fort
and had a clear line to the city, the people of Puebla would be demoralized and would surrender
quickly. Attacking the fortress directly would prove a major mistake.