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Investigating the History before Cinco de Mayo The Battle for Independence

This article explores the events leading up to Cinco de Mayo, including the Battle for Independence, the Mexican-American War, and the French Intervention in Mexico. Learn about the important dates and key figures involved in these historical events.

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Investigating the History before Cinco de Mayo The Battle for Independence

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  1. Investigating the History before Cinco de MayoThe Battle for Independence T

  2. Cinco de Mayo - The Holiday • Mexicans living in the United States wanted to maintain and reaffirm their roots. • They chose Cinco de Mayo to celebrate their ethnic and cultural background. • May 5th has been enthusiastically adopted by Mexican-Americans, Chicanos and various Hispanic communities in the United States. • The Cinco de Mayo Fiestas include many forms of Latin music, great variety of foods, theater, artwork, crafts fairs and many other cultural expressions • http://zedilloworld.presidencia.gob.mx/PAGES/culture/note_5may.html

  3. Cinco de Mayo - Important Dates • 1821 Gained independence from Spain but unstable period • 1846 Mexico and United States war began • 1855 Reform period with conflict • 1861 Onset ofPuebla battle • 1862 Battle of Puebla

  4. Cinco de Mayo - 1821 Gained independence from Spain • Mexico’s fight lasted from 1810 to 1821 • Mexico’s struggle for independence against Spanish Colonial rule. • After an 11 year fight, Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821

  5. Cinco de Mayo – 1846 Mexican-American War • BEGAN: April 25, 1846--The first battle between the Mexican and U.S. armies. • The Mexican War between the United States and Mexico began with a Mexican attack on American troops along the southern border of Texas on Apr. 25, 1846. • A dictatorial Centralist government in Mexico began the war because of the U.S. annexation (1845) of Texas, which Mexico continued to claim despite the establishment of the independent republic of Texas 10 years before. the Mexicans opened fire on the fort and the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma followed.

  6. Cinco de Mayo - 1848 Mexican-American war • The Mexican Army of more than 5,000 troops was defeated by Taylor's army of 2,000 • ENDED: February 2, 1848--The signing of the Treaty of Guadeloupe Hidalgo

  7. Cinco de Mayo - Was the war Eminent? • The ongoing and passionate battle between the Liberals and Conservatives • Government witnessed eighteen transfers of power. One of the key issues was the role of the Catholic Church and the separation of church and state. • With the adoption of a Liberal-based constitution in January 1857, the Conservative/Liberal conflict evolved into a full-scale civil war, referred to as the War of the Reform. http://www.houstonculture.org/hispanic/jalisco.html

  8. Cinco de Mayo - Leading towards war. • Mexico went through forty years of internal power struggles and rebellions. • By 1861 the country’s finances were so bad that the nation owed 80 million pesos in foreign debts. • Mexico’s president, Benito Juarez, pledged to pay off these debts eventually but, as an emergency measure, he suspended all payment for two years. • In France, Napoleon III saw this as an opportunity to establish French colonies in Latin America

  9. Cinco de Mayo -The War of the French Intervention • México, which had never been financially stable, underwent a severe economic crisis during the 1850s. • Much debt was owed to France. • France sent troops to México to secure payment of it’s debt.. • French troops invaded Mexico in an attempt to install Maximilian as Emperor of Mexico

  10. Cinco de Mayo - Battle of Puebla • The Battle of Puebla, May 5, 1862 -- This period painting shows the beginning of the French attack on Puebla de los Angeles (Puebla), May 5, 1862. • The heights of the Cerro de Guadalupe, a ridge of high ground dominating the entrance to Pueblo, the fort of Loretto and the fortified monastery of Guadalupe rise in the background.

  11. Cinco de Mayo - Victory at Puebla • The Victory of Cinco de Mayo. In this painting, as the defeated French troops stream back from their failed assault, Mexican cavalry with lances pick off the stragglers. • French troops of the elite 2nd Zouave Regiment, with their distinctive baggy red trousers, are in the foreground. • The white gaiters or “spats” over their shoes are those that General Count de Lorencez ordered them to freshly whiten in order to impress the Mexicans in what he hoped would be his triumphal entry into Puebla. • Meanwhile other French infantry, wearing white trousers, blue coats and fezzes, can be seen fleeing in the background.

  12. Cinco de Mayo - Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian • 1832-1867 • A dreamy romantic, he was selected by Napoleon III to be the puppet Emperor of Mexico in 1862. • When the Mexican adventure of Napoleon III collapsed in 1867, Maximilian was captured and executed by a Mexican firing squad.

  13. Cinco de Mayo -General Ignacio Zaragoza • (1829-1862) – Helped to overthrow the dictatorial Mexican president Antonio López de Santa Anna in 1855. • Served as Minister of the Army and Navy under President Benito Juarez between April and December, 1861, but resigned to take command of the Mexican army opposing the French invasion. • He defeated French General Count de Lorencez at the battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

  14. Cinco de Mayo - Benito Juarez • From January of 1858, Juarez served as president of Mexico until July 18, 1872 – more than 15 years. • He led his country through some of its most difficult years, notably the La Reforma (1857-1860) and French intervention (1861-1867) periods. • While still serving as president, Juarez died of an apoplectic stroke at the National Palace in Mexico City on July 18, 1872. His birthday – March 21 – is a national holiday in Mexico.

  15. Cinco de Mayo -Emperor Napoleon III • (1808-1873) – born April 21, 1808 in Paris. • As the nephew of Napoléon Bonaparte, Louis Napoleon believed that he was the rightful heir to the French throne. • In 1861, Napoleon III plotted to carve out a French empire in Mexico. • When Mexico was forced to suspend payments on its foreign debts, France, Great Britain and Spain landed an expeditionary force at Vera Cruz.

  16. Cinco de Mayo -Migual Miramón • 1832-1867- Mexican soldier of French extraction, was born in the city of Mexico • He first fought against the U.S. and then, as leader of the reactionary party, against the liberals. • Decisively beaten by the Liberals in 1860, he spent some time in Europe advocating, foreign intervention in Mexican affairs; and returned as a partisan of Maximilian. • His ability as a soldier was shown by his double defence of Puebla in 1856.

  17. Cinco de Mayo -Brigadier General Porfiro Diaz • In 1846 Diaz joined the Mexican National Guard to fight against the United States in the Mexican War. • Diaz opposed Mexican president Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna’s seizure of power in 1853, and was forced into exile. • He helped overthrow of Santa Anna’s dictatorship on August 12, 1855, and distinguished himself in the War of the Reform (1857-1860), fighting for the Liberal party. • During the French intervention, he continued his distinguished career, fighting in the battle of Puebla and elsewhere until the Mexicans prevailed

  18. Cindo de Mayo -dictator Santa Anna • Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna was a Mexican soldier and politician. • President of Mexico 11 times and often ruled as a dictator, he was always overthrown. • He began his long career by fighting for Spain against the Mexicans when the Mexicans started their armed struggle for independence in 1810. 1838, the French attacked Veracruz. • Santa Anna took command of the defending troops and beat back the attackers. From 1841 to 1844, he was president of Mexico

  19. Cinco de Mayo - Juan Alvarez • From 1810 to his death in 1867 Juan Alvarez fought for progressive causes. Son of a Spaniard and an Acapulco Afro-Mexican, Alvarez was a lieutenant to Guerrero during the 1810 war. • Juan Alvarez became President of Mexico in October 1855. On November 14, 1855, he rode into Mexico City attended by his bodyguard of Indian warriors from the southern mountains. • He gave his entire life to the cause of Mexican independence.

  20. Cinco de Mayo - References • Images http://www.nevadaobserver.com/Archive/040501/Featurestory.htm • http://www.elbalero.gob.mx/kids/history/html/sxix/imperio.html • Santa Anna http://www2.worldbook.com/wc/popup?path=features/cinco&page=html/santa_anna.htm&direct=yes • 1821 Mexican America n War http://thenaturalamerican.com/mexican_american_war.htm

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