Seven Things You May Not Know AboutCinco de Mayo

Children participate in a 2014 Cinco de Mayo celebration organized by the Committee for Awareness of Mexican-

American Culture at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. Photo by: CAMAC/Flickr.

Cinco de Mayo has become very popular in the United States. It is often an occasion for a

“gran fiesta,” a big party. Despite its popularity, there are many misunderstandings about

Cinco de Mayo.

For example, many people still falsely believe it is Mexico’s independence day. It is

actually the celebration of the Mexican army’s 1862 surprise victory over France at the

Battle of Puebla.

Here are seven other things you may not know about the holiday's origins.

By History.com, adapted by Newsela staff on 05.04.17

Word Count 1,179

Level 1020L

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

The mid-1800s were a rough time for Mexico. Mexico had just lost the Mexican-American

War, and the defeat was devastating. The country's future seemed uncertain. In 1854, a

plan known as the Plan of Ayutla was formed with the goal of overthrowing Antonio López

de Santa Anna, Mexico's president at the time. Eventually, Santa Anna stepped down and

went into exile.

Two main groups had been vying for power, liberals and conservatives. When Santa Anna

stepped down in 1855, the liberals took over, beginning a series of reforms known

collectively as "La Reforma." The liberals wanted to reduce the power and influence of the

Catholic Church, while the conservatives wanted to maintain its strong presence. Other

reforms favored by the liberals included separating religion and government, decreasing

the military's power, and integrating the country's indigenous, or native, population.

Soon after they took power, the liberals began drafting a new constitution. Anger over the

new constitution caused fighting to break out in 1858, in what became known as the War of

the Reform.

During the war, Mexico had two governments: a conservative one in Mexico City, led by

General Félix Zuloaga, and a liberal one in Veracruz, led by Benito Juárez, president of the

supreme court. The conservatives, who had the support of the pope, won a series of initial

battles. The liberals controlled the ports, however. They were therefore better able to

equip their troops. They emerged victorious in January 1861 when they retook Mexico City.

The country remained starkly divided, however. In the coming years, conservatives were

plotting their revenge.

2. European troops invaded because Mexico was broke

After the War of Reform, Mexico had almost no money. It owed tens of millions of dollars to

other countries. When Mexico couldn't pay its bills, newly elected President Juárez

suspended payment of all foreign debt for two years.

The move caused an immediate backlash from Spain, France and Great Britain, which had

lent Mexico money. The United States might have demanded payment, too. However, the

U.S. was busy fighting its own Civil War.

Troops from the three European countries began arriving in Veracruz in late 1861. Spain

and Great Britain almost immediately withdrew, but about 6,000 French troops pushed

inland toward the capital. They were backed by Mexico’s defeated conservative leaders.

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3. France was considered extremely strong militarily when it attackedMexico

In 1862, the French had one of the best armies in the world. Arriving at Puebla on May 4,

they were coming off a series of victories in Southeast Asia and Northern Africa. The

French were loaded with firepower, including long-range rifles that put the Mexicans’

creaky muskets to shame. They were so overconfident, in fact, that they didn’t even bother

to properly prepare their large weaponry.

On the morning of May 5, the French tried to scare the Mexicans with screeching bugle

calls and flashy displays. After a full day of fighting, however, they couldn't make any

progress. They charged uphill unsuccessfully three times and were forced to retreat due to

heavy losses.

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

Mexico’s victory at Puebla slowed, but did not stop, France’s assault. After the battle, an

infuriated Emperor Napoleon III ordered that almost 30,000 more troops be sent to Mexico.

This time around, under a new commander, they were able to overrun Puebla and easily

conquer Mexico City.

Juárez and his supporters then fled to the mountains. There, they carried out small attacks

on French troops while Napoleon III installed Ferdinand Maximilian von Habsburg as

Mexico’s ruler. France was in charge, though France's occupation of Mexico did not last

long. Still, there were many people in Mexico that supported the French. These included

the Catholic Church, conservatives, the upper class and some indigenous communities.

The liberals favored integrating indigenous people as citizens of Mexico instead of giving

them special rights. Many communities were against this.

5. The French occupation of Mexico was short-lived

There are a number of reasons why the French occupation of Mexico did not last long.

Back in France, Napoleon III was growing increasingly concerned about Prussia, a

German kingdom that included parts of many present-day European countries. France and

Prussia quarreled over certain territories. Napoleon III worried that Prussia would try to take

back disputed land if France was busy in Mexico. He wanted to make sure he had troops

at his disposal in Europe.

Meanwhile, the Civil War in the United States had ended, and U.S. officials were putting

pressure on the French to back out of Mexico. With money running low, Napoleon III

decided in 1866 to end France’s occupation of Mexico. Maximilian unwisely stayed and

briefly fought on, surrendering only after his troops were soundly defeated at Querétaro.

On June 19, 1867, he and his top generals were executed by a firing squad.

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

Porfirio Díaz would eventually become Mexico’s longest-serving president. However, until

the Battle of Puebla, he was a relatively unknown commander. During the battle, he

outflanked the French on their third charge and sent them into a disorderly retreat.

Over the next few years, he won battles at Oaxaca and elsewhere. Following the war,

however, Díaz became so disappointed with his old friend Juárez that he unsuccessfully

ran for president against him in 1871. He tried to overthrow the government several times

and finally succeeded in seizing power in 1876. Except for one four-year break, his reign

lasted until 1911, when he was removed by the Mexican Revolution.

7. Cinco de Mayo is more widely celebrated in parts of the United Statesthan in Mexico

Juárez declared Cinco de Mayo a holiday immediately after the Battle of Puebla. For many

Mexicans, however, the holiday takes a backseat to other important moments in Mexican

history. The September 16 Independence Day, for instance, is more widely celebrated. It

commemorates the start of hostilities against Spanish rule in 1810.

In the United States, Cinco de Mayo became popular during the 1960s. At the time, a

movement known as the Chicano Civil Rights Movement, or "El Movimiento," was gaining

ground. Its goal was to celebrate Mexican-American heritage and fight discrimination.

Chicano activists were looking for a way to honor their history and culture. They promoted

Cinco de Mayo celebrations, and today, the biggest Cinco de Mayo celebrations are held

in U.S. cities with large Mexican-American populations, such as Los Angeles. The Fiesta

Broadway festival in Los Angeles attracts hundreds of thousands of people every year.

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