The Fifth of May quickly approaches and Tucson is preparing
for many Cinco de Mayo festivals.
One of my favorite things to do is ask random people what Cinco de Mayo
is, because most people don’t know.
To be honest, up until a few years ago, I though it was Mexico’s
Independence Day. However, that
day falls in September, and again in November. Mexico celebrates the 16th of September because
that was the day in 1810 when independence was declared from Spain. November 20th is celebrated
because that marks the Mexican Revolution, which began in 1910. Cinco de Mayo has nothing to do with
Mexican Independence, and is hardly celebrated in Mexico itself. In fact, it is probably celebrated more
in the US than in Mexico.
Here is my history lesson for today. Napoleon III ruled France in the middle
of the 19th century, and one of his dreams was to see a return of
the powerful French Empire.
Napoleon III sought to create, and rule, a union of all Latin-speaking
peoples (people whose language developed from Latin). Since those in the former colonies of
Spain in the Americas spoke Spanish, the term Latin America was coined. Napoleon III looked for an opportunity
to invade, but the Monroe Doctrine of the United States presented quite the
obstacle. The Monroe Doctrine
stated that any interference with independent states in the Americas would be
seen as an act of aggression.
However, an opportunity presented itself in 1861 in the form of the
American Civil War.
Mexico was heavily in debt, and in early 1861, President
Juarez of Mexico declared that in order to improve the economy, they would
suspend payments of foreign debts.
France, along with Spain and Great Britain set sail for Mexico to demand
payment of debts. The United
States was occupied with its own war and did not have the resources to protect
Mexico. Spain and Great Britain
worked out a deal with Mexico and returned home, but France used the
opportunity to invade and establish French authority.
France’s military landed in Vera Cruz and began its march
toward Mexico City. Being one of
the greatest militaries in the world at the time, the French troops did not
take the Mexican soldiers seriously.
The Mexican troops however were defending their homes, and when they met
the invaders near Puebla on May 5, 1862, the outnumber Mexican forces routed
the French troops and forced them all the way back to Vera Cruz.
The victory was huge for Mexican morale, but short
lived. Napoleon III sent
reinforcements and a year later occupied Mexico City and installed Maximilian I
as emperor of Mexico. As soon as
the American Civil War was over, the United States began backing Mexican
interests and by 1867, Maximilian and his main generals were killed, leaving
Mexico to be ruled by Mexicans.
While the battle of Puebla was one of many battles that Mexicans fought,
Cinco de Mayo represents the battles and struggles that the Mexicans had to fight
to ensure their independence and the spirit of the holiday echoes the spirit of
the revolution. Viva la Mexico!
All of this aside, Cinco de Mayo represents for me the birth
of my baby brother and is a time when I can reflect on how awesome he is; so
Happy Birthday Quentin.
