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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