Fayetteville, NC

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    Cinco De Mayo History

      The battle at Puebla in 1862 happened at a violent and chaotic time in Mexico's history. Mexico had finally gained independence from Spain in 1810, and a number of internal political takeovers and wars, including the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) and the Mexican Civil War of 1858, had mostly wiped out the national economy. During this period Mexico had accumulated heavy debts to several nations, including Spain, England and France, who were demanding payment. Similar debt to the U.S. was previously cleared after the Mexican-American War. 

     France was eager to add to its empire at that time, and when Mexico finally stopped making any loan payments, it gave them a good reason to invade Mexico. The French Army, whom had not been defeated in 50 years, invaded Mexico with the finest modern equipment and with a newly reconstituted Foreign Legion (French Foreign Legion).

      France used the debt issue to establish its own leadership in Mexico by installing Napoleon's relative, Archduke Maximilian of Austria, as ruler of Mexico. France invaded the Gulf coast of Mexico and began to march toward Mexico City. 

     Although American President Abraham Lincoln, was sympathetic to Mexico's cause, and for which he is honored in Mexico, the U.S. was involved in its own Civil War at the time and was unable to provide any direct assistance. 

     Marching on toward Mexico City from the coast, the French army encountered strong resistance at the Mexican forts of Loreto and Guadalupe. Lead by Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin, a small, poorly armed militia of about 4,500 were able to stop and defeat a well outfitted French army of 6,500 soldiers, which halted the invasion of the country. The victory was a glorious moment for Mexican patriots and is the cause for the historical date's celebration. 

     Unfortunately, the victory was short lived. Upon hearing the bad news, Napoleon had found an excuse to send more troops overseas to try and invade Mexico again, against the wishes of the French populace. 30,000 more troops and a full year later, the French were eventually able to depose the Mexican army, take over Mexico City and install Maximilian as the ruler of Mexico. 

     Maximilian's rule of Mexico was also short lived, from 1864 to 1867, ending as the U.S. began to provide more political and military assistance to Mexico to expel the French. 

     Despite the eventual French invasion of Mexico City, Cinco de Mayo honors the bravery and victory of General Zaragoza's small, outnumbered militia at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. This small victory not only spurred the Nation of Mexico towards Independence, it also stopped the French troops who would most likely have worked their way through Mexico to ally themselves with the US confederacy potentially changing the outcome of two nation's sovereignty. 

     During this time, Confederate General Robert E. Lee was enjoying success, and had the French defeated México at Puebla, France would have aided the South in the American Civil War in order to free Southern ports of the Union Blockade. The Mexicans had won a great victory that kept Napoleon III from supplying the confederate rebels for another year, allowing the United States to build the greatest army the world had ever seen. 

     This grand army smashed the Confederates at Gettysburg just 14 months after the battle of Puebla, where we believed some Mexican-Americans also fought the confederates essentially ending the Civil War. Union forces were then rushed to the Texas/Mexican border under General Phil Sheridan, who made sure that the Mexicans got all the weapons and ammunition they needed to expel the French, American soldiers were discharged with their uniforms and rifles if they promised to join the Mexican Army to fight the French. 

     The American Legion of Honor marched in the Victory Parade in Mexico City. It might be a historical stretch to credit the survival of the United States to those brave 4,000 Mexicans who faced an army twice as large in 1862. But who knows? 

     In gratitude, thousands of Mexicans crossed the border after Pearl Harbor to join the U.S. Armed Forces, and Mexico sent Flight Squadron 821 to fight in WW II, being this the first time Mexico had sent its troops oversees to fight. 

     As recently as today, Mexicans flooded American consulates with phone calls, trying to join up and fight another war for America. Mexicans, you see, never forget who their friends are, and neither do Americans. That's why Cinco de Mayo is such a great celebration world wide -- A celebration that celebrates freedom and liberty. There are two ideals, which Mexicans and Americans have fought shoulder to shoulder to protect, ever since the 5th of May, 1862. 

VIVA! El Cinco de Mayo!!