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At Puebla, during the French-Mexican War (1861–1867), a small Mexican army defeats a large French invasion force. At the Battle of Puebla, the French forces' withdrawal symbolized Mexico's capacity to protect its integrity against a strong foreign power, and it was a significant moral triumph for the Mexican people.[1]

General Charles de Lorencez led 6,000 French troops to attack Puebla de Los Angeles in May 1862, certain that the French would win the war in Mexico quickly. Juarez assembled a ragged group of faithful soldiers at his new base of operations in the north and dispatched them to Puebla.Britain and Spain bargained with Mexico before withdrawing, but Napoleon III's France opted to take advantage of the available space to create an empire based on Mexico. A well-armed French warship invaded Veracruz late in 1861, landing a sizable French army and forcing President Juarez and his administration into exile.

After the War of Reform, Mexico had nearly no more money and its treasury yet they still owed millions to other countries. The Mexican president at the time stopped the payment of all foreign debt for two years which angered multiple different countries such as Spain, France, Great Britain Some historians contend that the French, who went to war with Mexico under the guise of recouping debt, intended to use Mexico as a "base" from which they could aid the Confederacy in overthrowing the North. The Mexican victory at Puebla allegedly caused the French to pause long enough for the Union army to strengthen and gain momentum. Some claim that if the French had prevailed at Puebla, the French and Confederates would have united to seize control of the continent from the Mason Dixon line to Guatemala, establishing an oligarchy with slave ownership. This would have drastically altered the course of the American Civil War.

Frances army was extremely advanced compared to Mexico's during the time of the battle. France had way more advanced weaponry such as long rifles that could easily outgun the Mexicans old muskets when they arrived at Puebla on May 4. They were overconfident to the point that they didn't even care to properly assemble their weaponry. The French attempted to scare the people of the city on the morning of May 5 with loud bugle cries and complex bayonet drills. They were forced to retire, however, as a result of significant casualties, following a full day of warfare that included three miserably failed uphill attacks.

Popularity Rise

The political decision taken by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to implement the "Good Neighbor Policy," which was intended to promote links with Latin American nations and people, was one of the key factors in the  of "Cinco de Mayo" in America. Due to this approach, Cinco de Mayo gained popularity in the 1950s and 1960s and finally became a recognized national holiday. The celebration has changed, notably since a rush of Mexican immigrants entered the country during the Mexican Civil War. With the influx of Mexican immigrants into the American southwest, they joined in the celebrations with their fellow Mexican Americans who were residing there without really understanding the significance of the holiday, and over time the date evolved into a celebration of Mexican ethnic identity rather than the victory over the French forces that had invaded Mexico. Some people even compare how Cinco de Mayo is to Mexican Americans is how St. Patrick's Day is to Irish Americans in the sense of most people don't even know why it is being celebrated but they were still join in.

Celebration

On 9 May 1862, President Juárez declared that the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla would be a national holiday, regarded as "Battle of Puebla Day" or "Battle of Cinco de Mayo".

What most do not realize is that the “Battle of Puebla” is celebrated just as much if not more in America then it is in Mexico, some say it is a way that Mexican Americans can show patriotism towards their roots and traditions, but it has also always been overshadowed by occasions like September 16 Independence Day, which marks the beginning of hostilities against Spanish control in 1810. Contrarily, Cinco de Mayo became popular in the United States in the 1960s when Chicano activists started seeking for a means to celebrate their heritage. The largest Cinco de Mayo festivities currently take place in American cities with sizable Hispanic populations, such Los Angeles, Houston, and San Antonio. It is a common misconception among non-Mexicans that Cinco de Mayo commemorates the declaration of Mexican independence, which occurred around 50 years before the Battle of Puebla. On Cinco de Mayo there are multiple different ways that they celebrate this event, some of these being parades, speeches, and recreations of the 1862 fight. In the middle of the 20th century, Mexican immigrants in the United States began to take pride in their Mexican ancestry by celebrating Cinco de Mayo. The main cause for rejoicing in Mexico is a win in war. The American celebration of Cinco de Mayo is more about honoring Mexican culture in general. In 1863, Americans started celebrating as a show of support for Mexico against the French. Critics noted that many American celebrations tended to both perpetuate negative stereotypes of Mexicans and promote excessive drinking, and that enthusiasm for the holiday celebration did not catch on with a wider demographic until it was associated with the promotion of Mexican alcoholic beverages. Commercial interests from both Mexico and the United States have contributed to the promotion of the event with goods and services that highlight Mexican cuisine, drinks, and celebrations, with music taking on a more prominent role. Since parades and concerts are held in many American towns the week before May 5th, Cinco de Mayo has grown in popularity both north and south of the border and is now included in the calendars of more and more people. For a genuine Cinco de Mayo experience, eat Mole Poblano. Puebla, the location of the conflict with the French, is where the Mole Poblano dish got its start. Order the Mole Poblano at a genuine Mexican restaurant in your community, particularly one run by Mexican-Americans with an actual Mexican chef.

References

A&E Television Networks. (2010, March 3). Outnumbered Mexican Army defeats French at Battle of Puebla. History.com. Retrieved October 7, 2022, from https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cinco-de-mayo

Redd, A. K. (2021, May 6). A brief history of Cinco de Mayo, from the Battle of Puebla to growing celebrations in California. abc10.com. Retrieved October 9, 2022, from https://www.abc10.com/article/news/community/race-and-culture/history-of-cinco-de-mayo-california/103-8d41915d-6d2e-4f78-9c11-672e8b223891

Greenspan, J. (2012, May 3). 7 things you may not know about Cinco de Mayo. History.com. Retrieved October 9, 2022, from https://www.history.com/news/cinco-de-mayo-facts-battle

Purvis, J. (2017, May 4). Why is Cinco de Mayo more popular in the U.S. than Mexico? KFOX. Retrieved October 9, 2022, from https://kfoxtv.com/community/just-ask-john/why-is-cinco-de-mayo-more-popular-in-the-us-than-mexico