Cinco de Mayo

In the United States, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated as a tribute to the heritage of Mexican-Americans, but few really understand where this holiday came from, or why it is exclusively Mexico and not Spain that celebrates the holiday. In order to understand where Cinco de Mayo came from, you have to first understand the buildup of events that made it possible for the holiday to exist.

In the mid-1800's, Mexico was in pretty bad shape. First the fought a war against the United States from 1846-48 (what we call the Mexican War), during which time the Battle of the Alamo occurred. Between 1858-61, Mexico endured its own civil war called the Reform War, which was fought between conservatives and liberals, but actual armies were raised by both sides with actual fighting occurring. This war was the final blow to the economic system of Mexico, causing the Treasury to be near bankrupt by the end. The liberals had won the Reform War, but conservative guerrilla forces still opposed the government. On July 17, 1861, President Benito Juarez issued an announcement that for two years, foreign payments would be suspended in order to stabilize the Treasury. Britain, France, and Spain were the three countries that were being paid by Mexico, and they took great exception to the lack of funds. All three countries sent naval forces to Veracruz in order to demand payment. The Mexican government settled with Britain and Spain, so they left. But France was different.

France at the time was led by Napoleon III, who was the nephew of the notorious Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon III wanted to establish a pro-French government in Mexico. French forces hoped to destabilize the government. Conservative forces who had been defeated in the Reform War aided the French. In late 1861, the French began to nearly invade Mexico, and President Juarez's armies had to retreat. The French military marched toward Mexico City, encountering fierce resistance from the Mexican forces.

On May 5, 1862, the Battle of Puebla occurred. It was on this day when the nearly 8,000-man army of France was defeated by the smaller 4,500-man army of Mexico. Although it wasn't strategic, it was very symbolic, giving the Mexican forces the confidence to fight the French army, which at the time was the premier world army.

Painting of the Battle of Puebla: May 5, 1862

The celebration didn't last long because a year later the French army defeated the Mexican army. The French installed Emperor Maximilian I, and thus created the Second Mexican Empire. The empire only lasted from 1864-1867. In 1865 the US Civil War ended, which freed up resources and men to try to free Mexico from the outside French influence. The empire was constantly being harassed by guerrilla forces, and Napoleon III was having trouble with Prussia in Europe. Beginning in 1866, Napoleon III began pulling French out of Mexico, and in 1867, the empire fell.

Today, celebrations of the defeat of the French are celebrated in Puebla, Mexico, but the rest of Mexico doesn't celebrate Cinco de Mayo as much. It is actually more recognized in the United States as a celebration of Mexican heritage and culture. In areas of the United States that were once Mexican territory, beginning shortly after the victory, Cinco de Mayo was celebrated. It gradually spread across the US. In 2006, there were over 150 official Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the US.