Cinco de Mayo isn’t Mexico’s Fourth of July
Cinco de Mayo marks the historic Mexican victory over French forces in 1862—a moment that not only defied European imperialism, but also dealt a blow to anti-democratic conservatives in Mexico.
Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in the United States by Mexican Americans and non-Mexican Americans alike. Despite the popularity of this holiday, there remain many misconceptions about the origin of the holiday and what Mexicans accomplished on that day in 1862.
Background to the conflict
The United Mexican States, known as the Second Republic of Mexico by historians, was a young country compared to the United States at the time of its founding in 1846. The Second Republic’s establishment followed a period of bloody wars between competing factions in Mexico and an American invasion.
Liberal leaders governed Mexico during the first years of the Second Republic, but conflict plagued the young country and competing factions once again found themselves at odds with one another. This conflict escalated into a full-blown civil war in what is known as the Reform War in 1856. This latest civil war concluded with a Liberal victory in 1860, yet it would be short-lived. Mexico was facing a financial crisis after decades of conflict and this forced Mexican leaders to postpone foreign debt payments. The crisis escalated further after Great Britain, France, and Spain agreed to invade Mexico as part of the Convention of London. These countries demanded immediate reparations, but France would take things a step further.
France invades Mexico, alone
On December 8, 1861, the British, French, and Spanish navies arrived at the strategically-important port city of Veracruz, but after the French made their real intentions clear, Great Britain and Spain soon abandoned the conflict.
France, under the rule of Emperor Napoleon III sought to establish a European-style monarchy in Mexico, a massive departure from their original intention of collecting debt payments. Some Mexican conservative leaders outwardly embraced this effort, especially since they were still regrouping after their defeat in the Reform War.
The Battle of Puebla
The Battle of Puebla took place near Puebla de los Angeles, on May 5, 1862 as French troops marched from Veracruz to Mexico City. The French forces led by General Charles de Lorencez outnumbered the Mexican defenders and expected to take the city fairly quickly. The reality however was far different. These French troops were successfully repelled by the Mexican republican defenders (soldiers still loyal to the Republic of Mexico) at the forts of Loreto and Guadalupe. Despite being considered a superior force in training and weaponry, the French forces were soundly defeated.
Although the city would eventually fall to French reinforcements, their initial victory over the French invaders provided a massive morale boost to the republican soldiers and supporters all over Mexico.
The Legacy of the Fifth of May
It’s true that the battle was mostly a symbolic victory over France, however it would set the tone for the conflict that would follow for the next several years. After the fall of Mexico City to French forces, the Second Mexican Empire (as it’s known by historians) was established and led by Austrian Emperor Maximilian I. However, Maximilian’s rule was incredibly polarizing even among Mexican conservatives. He would eventually be executed on June 19, 1867 after Mexican republicans retook Mexico City, ending another bloody and brutal chapter of European imperialism in North America.
Cinco De Mayo reminds us of the sacrifice that many Mexicans gave to protect their national sovereignty and democratic values. It is also a day to celebrate the defeat of the old world and their reactionary conservative forces in Mexico.