Seven Things About Cinco de Mayo-- Part 4: Actually a Bigger Thing in the U.S. Than Mexico

7.  Cinco de Mayo  is more widely celebrated in the United States  than in Mexico.

Benito Juarez declared Cinco de Mayo a holiday immediately after the Battle of Puebla, but for may Mexicans it has always taken backseat to such events as   the September 16 Independence Day, which commemorates the start of hostilities against Spanish rule in 1810.

In the United States, on the other hand, Cinco de Mayo gained traction during the 1960s, when Chicano activists began looking for a way to honor their history, culture and heritage.

It really picked up as more and more Mexicans moved to the United States.

Today, the biggest Cinco de Mayo celebrations are held in U.S. cities with large Hispanic populations, such as Los Angeles, which every year attracts hundreds of thousands of people to its Fiesta Broadway Festival.

Of course, this also becomes a big drinking and partying day at many bars across the country with all sorts of drink specials and Mexican food.

Margaritas Anyone?  --Cooter

Seven Things About Cinco de Mayo-- Part 3: Maximilian's Out. Juarez and Dias Battle for Control

5.  Continued.

With money running low in his coffers, Napoleon III decided in 1866 to end France's occupation of Mexico.  

Maximilian  unwisely stayed and briefly fought before surrendering his troops after they were routed at  Queretaro.  On June19, 1867, he and his generals were executed by firing squad.

6.  Porfirio Diaz began making a name for himself at Puebla.

Porfirio Diaz, Mexico's longest-serving president,  was a relatively unknown cavalry commander until the Battle of  Puebla, where he outflanked the French on their third charge and sent them into disorderly retreat.

Over then next several years, he won battles at Oaxaca and elsewhere.  Following the war, however, Diaz became  so disillusioned with his one-time friend Juarez that he unsuccessfully ran for president against him.

He later launched a couple coup attempts, finally seizing power in 1876.  Except for one four-year  break, his reign lasted until 1911, when he was finally deposed by the Mexican Revolution.

--Cooter

Seven Things About Cinco de Mayo-- Part 2: France Won the War Anyway

4.  After losing the Battle of Puebla, France went on to win  the war.

Mexican victory at Puebla slowed, but did not stop the French onslaught.  French Emperor Napoleon  III ordered another 30,000 troops sent to Mexico under a new commander.  They overran Puebla easily and captured Mexico City. 

Juarez and his followers escaped to the mountains and Napoleon installed  Ferdinand Maximilian von Hapsburg, second in line to the Austro-Hungarian throne as Mexico's ruler.

5.  The French occupation of Mexico was short-lived.

Back in France, Napoleon III was growing increasingly concerned about  Prussia, which had won victories against Denmark and Austria and figured they would next try to  reclaim the  the disputed territories of  Alsace and Lorraine.

Meanwhile, the Civil War in the United States had ended and  the U.S. government was putting pressure on him to get out and also supplying  weapons to  to Juarez's army.

Continued.

--Cooter

Seven Things About Cinco de Mayo-- Part 1: Not Just France

From the April 28, 2022, History "7 things you may not know about Cinco de Mayo" by Jesse Greenspan.

1.  Mexico had just gotten over a civil war in 1862.

2.  European troops invaded because Mexico was broke.  Owed lots of money to Spain, France and Great Britain.  With the U.S. too tied up with its own civil war, it would be unable to enforce the Monroe Doctrine.  Spain and Great Britain almost immediately left, but 7,000 French troops pushed on, aided by those Mexicans who had lost the civil war.

3.  France was considered a major military power at the time.  On May 5, they encountered Mexican forces at Puebla and despite three charges, were forced to retreat.  A major victory for the Mexicans.

--DaCoot