Cinco De Mayo

cinco de mayo is a very important day for mexicans due to mexicos first attempt to rebultal the french foreign legin from entering mexico. mexico who was ruled by conservatives faced challenges that threatened mexicos soverignity and freedom. in 1862 in puebla mexico the french were tempotaily defeated thus giving cause for celebration.

Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1810. But the Mexican War with the United States and the Mexican Civil War almost entirely wiped out the Mexican Treasury.In 1857, the war of reform broke out in Mexico. It was a civil war which was 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).as stated in the book, "the history of mexico" that "charcterized by intense diviosions,hostility, and violence, the war bitterly divided mexico." This ruthless, bloody war left the nation in mess and bankrupt. after fighting for years ,in this horrible time foreign governments made claims on debts, and conservatives continues to dream of establishing a monarch y in mexico. When the war was over in 1861, Mexican President Benito Juarez suspended all payment of foreign debt.Mexico simply did not have any money. in response to this the rulers of britain,spain and france landed troops at ver cruz.France's answer was to invade Mexico. Juarez soon reached a settlement with Britain and Spain and they withdrew their forces. however france didnt accept no settlement but instead landed more troops. The French had tried to make Archduke Maximilian of Austria the ruler of Mexico. Under his command, French troops marched from the Gulf of Mexico toward Mexico City. Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza and about 5,000 poorly armed troops met the 6,000-strong French army at the Battle of Puebla.

he Mexican victory was incredible. It stopped the French cold, at least for awhile.