Hey - it's Cinco de Mayo! Let's have a party!
Even though this is the alleged Mexican Independence Day celebration according to most of the people I know, it really isn't. That's September 16th, which doesn't have quite the same festive ring to it. Besides, Cinco de Mayo is much easier for English speakers to say than dieciseis de Septiembre. It flows off the tongue. Even when you're half in the bag. Diesciseis de Septiembre is a mouthful even when you're stone cold sober.
Instead of full-on Independence, this is the date on which the Mexican army defeated - in surprising fashion - the French at the Battle of Puebla. Because of... ta da! Money.
See, there was a bit of a fiscal crisis then, too. There usually is. Then. Now. It doesn't matter, really. Money is always a problem. After all, isn't that what most couples fight over? So why not governments, too?
It was 1861 and the Mexican government was just about bankrupt after busily fighting two huge wars.
The first was the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) which was how the U.S. ended up with California, New Mexico and made sure that Texas wasn't going anywhere.
The second was the Reform War (1858-1861). I think I'm going to call that the 'Bible Thumper War'. It sounds more fun than *yawn* the Reform War.
Conservatives liked the idea of a form of theocracy in which the government and Catholic church would rule side-by-side. Most folks weren't too keen on the idea, so they had a war. The Thumpers lost.
Anyway, by the end of those two wars the Mexican government was hugely in debt to England, France and Spain. It had borrowed money, a lot of it.
After the dust settled, when they attempted to balance their checkbook, they discovered they were broke. "Meh, they can wait" (or words to that effect). President Juarez told his creditors that Mexico wouldn't service its debt for a couple of years - just a moratorium.
Naturally, their creditors weren't pleased. Kind of like Ebenezer Scrooge on the steps of the Exchange when accosted by Samuel Wilkins - 'I didn't ask you for more time to lend you the money. Why should you ask me for more time to repay it?'
Of course, that didn't set well with Mexico's creditors. They sent ships and men and, in a manner of speaking, banged on the door while demanding payment. Mexico managed to sweet talk England and Spain into waiting. They went back home, but Napoleon decided to take a pound or two of flesh, seeing an opportunity to establish a French colony in the Americas.
For Napoleon and his army, considered the 'premier army' in the world at the time, their attempt ended with an embarrassing defeat.
On cinco de Mayo, in the Battle of Puebla, six thousand elite French soldiers were resoundingly beaten by an ill-equipped Mexican army of two thousand.
Boney was not best pleased. The next year, he sent thirty-thousand troops. Better odds. They managed to take over Mexico and install a puppet government, answerable to France although the Mexican resistance continued for several years.
In the end, with the American Civil War over and the geo-political landscape shifting again, France decided it really didn't want a continuing guerrilla war in Mexico. The U.S. wasn't real happy with the French invasion of Mexico, and started providing support to the Mexican guerrillas.
Seeing the writing on the wall, the French decided leaving was probably a better idea than staying, so they withdrew, leaving their governor, Maximilian I, behind. He was captured and, along with several of his generals, was executed.
President Juarez returned to Mexico City in 1867, re-established his government and (almost) everyone lived (mostly) happily ever after.
So now, let's have a party!
Best~
Philippa
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