. Americans believe that May 5 is a Mexican Independence Day and eat enchiladas with their shots to celebrate. But in a way May 5 is more about debt repair than drinking cocktails. You will find many different Mexicans who celebrate Cinco de Mayo history as the date of the Battle of Puebla in 1862, especially those in the state of Puebla. Out-manned and outgunned, Mexican forces defeated a French army sent by Napoleon III. Many Mexicans take the Battle of Puebla as a symbol of freedom and liberty.
History of the Battle of Puebla
If Americans really knew about the Battle of Puebla history, they would be celebrating Cinco de Mayo by expressing gratitude toward Mexico, rather than wearing funny hats and speaking Spanglish. Mexico’s actual day of independence is not May 5, rather it is September 16, which is the day Mexico’s 10 year Independence War with Spain began in 1810.
The truth about the Battle of Puebla
In 1862, on Cinco de Mayo, the US was in the middle of its Civil War. Mexico had been celebrating Mexican Independence day since 1810. The country was unfortunately nevertheless broke after a war with the United States in 1848, when it lost California and New Mexico (a vast territory that now involves Arizona, Nevada, Wyoming and Utah). The Mexican government therefore owed France a ton of cash. France felt as though the US, with the military and expanding territory, was a threat. Napoleon III felt the threat could a lot more effortlessly be defused during the Civil War.
Battle of Puebla background
The Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, occurred because Napoleon III of France sent troops to Mexico under the ruse of collecting the debt. His real intent was to defeat the Mexicans so in the end he could have a force in place to aid the Army of the Confederacy. Napoleon felt that it was important to make sure the nation split as it would be easier to hold sway over two weak nations rather than one united one.
French defeated at Battle of Puebla
The Battle of Puebla on Cinco de Mayo 1862 pitted a ragtag Mexican force against the French Army, considered the baddest military force within the world at the time. . The Mexicans didn’t just stand their ground; they chased the French to the coast and defeated them.
Reason to celebrate Cinco de Mayo
Until 1867, the French weren’t totally out of Mexico, but the Battle of Pueblo on Cinco de Mayo was huge in preserving Mexican independence. The Confederates didn’t receive the aid from France because of the French defeat at the Battle of Puebla. A key role was played by this Mexican army in helping Abraham Lincoln to win the war and preserve the Union. A deed worthy of a toast when Americans get their drinks on Cinco de Mayo.
Resources
tequila
http://cocktails.about.com/b/2007/05/01/tequila-and-cinco-de-mayo.htm
New Mexico
http://www.emersonkent.com/map_archive/mexico_texas_1845.htm
A deed worthy of a toast
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipes/gallery/0,28548,1607704,00.html
