The Mexican
holiday known as "Cinco de Mayo" is widely misconstrued in this
country, even by people of Mexican descent. Other people do not
seem to care about the origin and cultural significance of Cinco
de Mayo, they simply see it as an opportunity to go out and get
drunk on Mexican beer at reduced prices. Despite its
commercialization, this holiday is of importance to many people.
The biggest misconception about Cinco de Mayo is that it
commemorates of México's Independence Day. That holiday is, in
fact, celebrated on September 16. On that date back in 1810,
Father Miguel Hidalgo issued a proclamation known as "El Grito
de Dolores" that united the many different rebellions going on
against Spain into one cohesive struggle. México achieved its
independence from Spanish rule in 1821. Cinco de Mayo is
actually a commemoration of a victory by Mexican troops in La
Batalla de Puebla more that fifty years later, on May 5, 1862.
From the time of Mexican Independence in 1821 to the time of
this battle in 1862, México suffered numerous setbacks in its
attempts to form a stable republic, and endured several
incursions into its sovereignty as an independent nation.
Fifteen years into its independence, Texas seceded from México.
The Texas Revolt was led by "American-Mexicans," Anglos who
immigrated from the United States to México, promising to obey
Mexican laws and respect Mexican traditions. This revolt
eventually led to the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), a war
won by the U. S. As a result, México was forced to surrender
approximately half of its territory to the U. S. México, which
had never been financially stable, underwent a severe economic
crisis during the 1850s.President Benito Juárez inherited
México's troubled political and financial situation, which
included a bankrupt Mexican treasury. As a result of these
problems, President Juárez issued a moratorium in 1861 halting
payments on Mexican foreign debt. Much of this debt was owed to
France.
Shortly
thereafter, France sent troops to México to secure payment of its debt.
At the time, the French Army of Napoleon III was considered the premier
army in the world. It had enjoyed recent victories throughout Europe and
Asia. The French expected to march form the port city of Veracruz to
Mexico City without encountering much resistance. President Juárez sent
troops, under the command of General Ignacio Zaragosa, to Puebla to
confront the French. The Mexican troops consisted almost entirely of
indigenous soldiers, much like today. General Zaragosa's troops,
outnumbered 4,700 to 5,200, were severely under-equipped. La Batalla de
Puebla raged on for two hours, after which time the French were forced
to retreat to Orizaba. Despite tremendous odds, the humble Mexican Army
defeated the most powerful fighting unit in the world!
One year after La Batalla de Puebla, the French brought in more troops
and re-attacked. This time they were able to make their way to Mexico
City, take the capital, and install Emperor Maximilian of Hapsburg as
the reigning monarch of México. Maximilian ruled México for about four
years, until his execution in 1867 by troops loyal to President Juárez,
who regained power. Although La Batalla de Puebla on Cinco de Mayo was
rendered militarily insignificant by the French's subsequent victory, it
did inject the Mexican people with pride and patriotism it had never
before enjoyed. Since its independence from Spain in 1821, México had
suffered one tragedy after another. La Batalla de Puebla was the first
time that the Mexican pueblo could rally around a common cause and
proudly proclaim, «¡Yo soy Mexicano!»
Cinco de Mayo is not celebrated in México to the same extent that it is
by Chicanos in the U. S., mainly because El 16 de septiembre is seen as
the more important holiday. The reason that Chicanos celebrated the
holiday is that we appreciate its cultural significance (victory in the
face of great odds and the patriotism it generated) more that its
historical relevance. Also, General Ignacio Zaragosa, the leader at La
Batalla de Puebla, was born in Texas while it was still part of México.
For this reason, he is considered by many to be the first Chicano hero.
Some scholars, including José Antonio Burciaga, believe that had the
French defeated México at Puebla, France would have aided the South in
the American Civil War in order to free Southern ports of the Union
Blockade. During this time, Confederate General Robert E. Lee was
enjoying success, and French intervention could have had an impact on
the Civil War. It seems that even people not of Mexican descent may also
have an indirect reason to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Whatever the case
may be, people should realize that this holiday does have some
historical and cultural significance to millions of people and that not
everyone considers it an excuse to go out and party.
