History of 5 de Mayo(It is not the Independence of Mexico!)
Who Celebrates 5 de Mayo
Mexico after the Mexican-American War
The French invasion
Batalla de Puebla (Puebla Battle)
The Mexican Empire
5 de Mayo celebration
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Who Celebrates 5 de Mayo
California Texas New Mexico Arizona
– at one point part of Mexico.– lost to US during the
Mexican-American War in 1848.
– new Mexican-American citizens united to form a coalition society to protect
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Who Celebrates 5 de Mayo
These societies evolved into an elitist society
contributed money and materials to the Mexican Government to fight against the Mexican Imperial Monarchy
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Mexico Before the Mexican American War
Agustin de Iturbide– crowned emperor of a free Mexico.
He was a “Criollo” of noble Spanish decent only 8 months Constitutional government led by Santa Anna
– “traitor” that sold the land to US and caused the Mexican-American War.
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Mexico after the Mexican-American War
Santa Anna – the Mexican dictator – was forced to resign.
In 1858, Benito Juárez, – a full blooded Zapotec Indian, a
lawyer and a priest, – elected as president of Mexico to
defend the Constitution established in 1857.
– was re-elected in 1861. The country was in a financial hole due
to the Mexican-American war. 1861, President Juarez issued a
moratorium on all debt repayment
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The Initiation of the Mexican-French War
Congress made the decision to suspend the payment of the foreign debt for two years
except to US, who helped Juárez to the presidency
The creditors, France, Spain and England
France, ruled by Napoleon III (Napoleon Bonaparte’s nephew), – greedy agenda of expanding its
empire to the Americas. (1852-1870 emperor of France)
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Napoleon III’s Agenda
Dispose of the Constitutional Government of Mexico
Establish a monarchy favorable to France in Mexico, Central and South America
Have a monopoly on raw materials from the Americas
Have a close check on the United States after the annexation of the Mexican territory
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Foreign invasion of Mexico
On December 8th, 1861 – European forces
landed in Veracruz. Spain and England
– withdrew their support
– went back to Europe on April 11th, 1862.
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The French Invasion
Illusion of Mexican people would welcome them the French set out to Mexico city with 6/7,000 men. This illusion
– fostered by conservatists and rich “Criollo” landlords – feared the loss of their lands to the Republic.
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Puebla Battle
General Ignacio Zaragoza – Ordered to stop the French
troops – army of only 2000 men.
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Puebla Battle May 5, 1862
Loreto and Guadalupe in the city of Puebla
video
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Puebla Battle
one fort was in ruins more than 1000
French soldiers were died.
The Mexican Army had won a battle…
But not the war…. This date is symbolic
of the Mexican’s courage against a formidable army
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Forts of Loreto and Guadalupe
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The Mexican Empire
Mexico won the battle of Puebla but lost the war
In June 1864 – Maximilian of Habsburg and
his wife Charlotte (Carlota) arrived in Mexico as crowned emperors by Napoleon III
Maximilian– organized the administration– liberated the Indians from
servitude – developed the natural
resources of the country
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The Mexican Empire
Juárez – went North and requested
volunteers and financial support
– Want to overthrow the empire May 15, 1867
– Maximilian was captured and tried by court martial
– executed in “El Cerro de las Campanas” • June 19 with his officers
Miguel Miramón and Tomás Mejía
Carlota – sent back to Austria – developed dementia
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Maximilian and the Charro Outfit
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5 de Mayo Celebration
5 de Mayo is a Mexican holiday
it is in US where the celebration is more festive
consisting of parades, music, folklore, dances and food
These festivities are to celebrate the solidarity among the Mexican-Americans
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5 de Mayo Today
The battlefield – now a park in Puebla
with a statue of General Zaragoza riding horseback.
forts – is a museum – display of hundreds of
toy soldiers set up to show what happened that day
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