Cinco de Mayo: 5th of May

1
Cinco de Mayo5th of May

• Celebrating the Mexican Victory at the Battle of
  Puebla 1862

2
Setting the Stage

• Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821 and
  struggled through the American War 1846 1848
  and the Mexican Civil War of 1858
• These events ruined Mexicos economy
• Mexico was in debt to France for loaning them
  money to fight these wars and France demanded
  repayment

3
Frances Expanding Empire

• Since Mexico owed them money, France demanded
  that Mexico grant French leadership within the
  Mexican government as a way of expanding their
  empire
• Mexico refused and stopped making loan repayments
• Napoleon, Frances ruler, sent his relative,
  Archduke Maximillian, to take over and control
  Mexico

4
The French Invasion

• France invaded Mexico at the Gulf Coast along the
  state of Veracruz
• The French began to march toward Mexico City

5
Mexican Resistance

• Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin organized
  a group of 4,500 Zapotec Indians and Mestizo
  farmers to fight against the French.

6
Mexican Militia

• The Mexican army had excellent horses, but very
  few guns and weapons.
• They fought using farming equipment such as hoes
  and machetes as well as sticks and rocks.

7
French Army

• The French had 6,500 soldiers compared to the
  4,500 Mexicans
• The French were equipped with guns, ammunition,
  were well-trained and had a many horses

8
Mexican Victory!

• The French cavalry were distracted and led off by
  the Mexican cavalry
• Meanwhile, the French infantry attacked the
  Mexican defenders through mud from a recent
  thunderstorm and through hundreds of stampeding
  cattle led by Indians armed only with machetes
• The French were brutally defeated

9
American Involvement

• The American government sent guns and ammunition
  to the Mexican soldiers to help them drive the
  French out for good
• Mexicans fought side by side with the Americans
  and formed a bond of friendship and trust between
  the two governments

10
Cinco de Mayo

• A celebration of freedom and liberty
• Honors the bravery and resilience of a small,
  outnumbered militia
• Proves that common people can be strong and
  powerful when united in a common goal
• Celebrates the bond created between Mexico and
  the U.S.

11
IViva Mexico!