Free Essays on Cinco De Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is actually a commemoration of a victory by Mexican troops over the French in La Batalla de Puebla in 1862. It is celebrated in other parts of the country and in U.S.cities with a significant Mexican population. The battle at Puebla in 1862 happened at a violent and chaotic time in Mexico's history. Mexico had finally gained independence from Spain in 1810, and a number of internal political takeovers and wars. During this period Mexico had accumulated heavy debts to several nations including England, Spain, and France. France was wanting to add on to their empire at that time, and when Mexico finally stopped making any loan payments, France used the debt issue to establish its own leadership in Mexico by installing Napoleon's relative, Archduke Maximilian of Austria, as ruler of Mexico. The French invaded the Gulf of Mexico and marched toward Mexico City. The French meet a strong resistance at the Mexican forts of Loreto and Guadalupe. The Mexican troops were lead by General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin. The Mexicans had a militia of about 4,500 and was able the stop and defeat the French, who had an army of about 6,500. The victory was a glorious moment for Mexican patriots and is the cause for the historical date's celebration. Cinco de Mayo honors the bravery and victory of General Zaragoza's small, outnumbered militia at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.... Free Essays on Cinco De Mayo Free Essays on Cinco De Mayo Cinco de Mayo (May 5th) is sometimes mistakenly referred to as Mexican Independence Day. Cinco de Mayo is celebrated more by Latinos in the United States, as opposed to 16 de Septiembre (September 16th), which is the day that celebrates Mexican Independence from Spain, and is the day that is celebrated in Mexico as Mexican Independence Day. Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the first leader of the Mexican revolt against Spanish rule, is known as the father of Mexican independence. Abandoning academic life in the early 1790s, Hidalgo served as the pastor of several central Mexican parishes. He made most of these parishes into centers of cultural life and independent economic endeavor, although Spanish law prohibited economic activity that competed with industry in Spain. In 1803 he became the pastor of Dolores, a town in Guanajuato. There he and his intellectual associates eventually conspired to achieve independence from Spain. When their conspiracy was discovered, they proclaimed rebellion- el Grito de Dolores (cry of Dolores)on Sept. 16, 1810, the day usually celebrated as Mexican Independence Day. Mexico was later conquered by the French army, and their defeat by the Mexican army is celebrated on Cinco de Mayo. Cinco de Mayo celebrates the Battle of Puebla, Mexico, where on May 5, 1862; Mexican patriots defeated the French army.... Free Essays on Cinco de Mayo Cinco de Mayo is actually a commemoration of a victory by Mexican troops over the French in La Batalla de Puebla in 1862. It is celebrated in other parts of the country and in U.S.cities with a significant Mexican population. The battle at Puebla in 1862 happened at a violent and chaotic time in Mexico's history. Mexico had finally gained independence from Spain in 1810, and a number of internal political takeovers and wars. During this period Mexico had accumulated heavy debts to several nations including England, Spain, and France. France was wanting to add on to their empire at that time, and when Mexico finally stopped making any loan payments, France used the debt issue to establish its own leadership in Mexico by installing Napoleon's relative, Archduke Maximilian of Austria, as ruler of Mexico. The French invaded the Gulf of Mexico and marched toward Mexico City. The French meet a strong resistance at the Mexican forts of Loreto and Guadalupe. The Mexican troops were lead by General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin. The Mexicans had a militia of about 4,500 and was able the stop and defeat the French, who had an army of about 6,500. The victory was a glorious moment for Mexican patriots and is the cause for the historical date's celebration. Cinco de Mayo honors the bravery and victory of General Zaragoza's small, outnumbered militia at the Battle of Puebla in 1862....