The History of Cinco De Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is frequently regarded as the Mexican equivalent of the United States 4th of July, however this is factually incorrect. In actuality, it is simply the equivalent of the 5th of May and nothing more. However, a number of important things have occurred in Mexican history on the 5th of May throughout the years.

Of primary importance in Mexican history is the battle of Cinco de Mayo that occurred in 1862, when Juarez, who had been Zapotec Indian minister of Justice in Juan Alvarez' cabinet in the 1850s, entered Mexico City on January 11, 1861 and promptly expelled the Spanish minister, the papal legate, and members of the episcopate. He also took steps to enforce the decrees of 1859 disestablishing and disendowing the church. He could not have known at this time that almost a century later "antidisestablishmentarianism" would become the longest word in the English dictionary.

Although Juarez was recognized by the United States and received both moral and military aid from the U.S., there were over $80,000,000.00 in debts at that time owed by Mexico to Europe alone. The Mexican Congress decreed in July, 1861, the suspension for 2 years of interest payments on the external national debt, and 3 months later a convention was convened among Great Britain, France, and Spain calling for joint intervention in Mexico. As European forces advanced, and particularly the French troops, their advance was checked at Puebla on May 5, 1862.

Cinco de Mayo is celebrated today much like our July 4th Independence Day holiday is celebrated with family picnics, celebrations and fireworks. It is the method of celebrating

Cinco De Mayo is celebrated on May 5