Cinco de Mayo is known throughout the world but it is known as a celebration for all the wrong reasons. Many people think that Cinco de Mayo is Mexican Independence Day or people use Cinco de Mayo as a day to go out and drink. This day is important to Mexico’s history because it signifies the end of the battle against France. When Benito Juarez was elected in 1861, he was forced to pay European governments for the money the country owed others. This led to France trying to take some of Mexico’s territory.
The French stormed into Veracruz and a large force of troops were planning to fight over land which led to Mexico’s government at the time to retreat. There were 6,000 French troops who were set to attack Puebla de Los Angeles, which is a small town in Juarez. The Mexican army on the other hand was way smaller than the French, with only 2,000 men the Mexican army was outnumbered but they were ready to fight.
The French was equipped with heavy artillery but they had lost around 500 men compared to the Mexican army who had only lost 100 men. Although this war wasn’t tackled in a proper way, it was ultimately won by the Mexican army.
Today, in Mexico they celebrate this day in Puebla, Mexico as a way to remember the country’s win against France but this celebration isn’t a national holiday. As I mentioned, this is also a big celebration around the United States but it can sometimes be for the wrong reasons. Cinco de Mayo is usually celebrated in very big cities with large Mexican populations like Chicago, LA, and Houston. People should know the history behind a celebration and this is one important one.
Works Cited:
History.com Editors. “Cinco De Mayo.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, October 23, 2009.
Francisco P. Miranda, “Batalla de Puebla” 1872.
By: Penelophe Pintor
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