Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo celebrates the 1862 defeat of the French by the Mexican army at the
Battle of Puebla. That battle occurred during the Franco-Mexican War, which was
an invasion of Mexico launched by the French in 1861. The French invaded Mexico
as a result of newly elected Mexican President Benito Juarez’s decision to suspend
interest payments on loans the country took out from foreign countries. France
was one such creditor, but the French were not the only country to send troops to
Mexico in response to Juarez’s decision. Spain and Great Britain also sent troops to
Veracruz, but both countries entered negotiations with Mexico and
ultimately withdrew their forces. However, France, under the
leadership of Napoleon III, wanted to ensure access to Latin
American markets. The French naval fleet’s arrival in
Veracruz forced President Juarez and his government
to retreat. Months later, Juarez’s force of 2,000 squared
off against 6,000 French troops at the Battle of Puebla.
Despite being heavily outnumbered, the Mexican forces
claimed victory, losing fewer than 100 men while French
casualties numbered nearly 500. While the victory itself
did not prove a major win in the war against the French,
it symbolized the strength of the Mexican people and
served to strengthen the resistance movement. Cinco de
Mayo is a minor holiday in Mexico, but has grown into a
popular celebration of Mexican culture in the United States.