¡Viva México! ¡Viva Juárez! CINCO DE MAYO ¡Viva México! ¡Viva Juárez!

WHY? In 1861, the Mexican Congress suspended repayment of foreign debts for 2 years, due to financial instability. Creditors in England, Spain and France decided intervention was needed. France secretly planned to impose a monarchical government upon the countries of Central and South America.

WHO? Benito Pablo Juárez, President of the United States of México Napoleon III, Emperor of the Second French Empire (nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte) Maximilian & Charlotte of Hapsburg General Ignacio Zaragoza

BENITO JUAREZ Full-blooded Zapotec Indian Lawyer Defeated conservative forces in 1861 to be elected President in Mexico City One of Mexico’s greatest heroes

NAPOLEON III Wanted to check the growing power of the US Republic following annexation of California, Arizona and New Mexico. Used the wealthy landowners who feared loss of land and political power under the new government of Juarez. Wanted to control raw materials and trade for the European nations.

GEN. ZARAGOZA Ordered by President Juarez to block the advance of the French invaders with only 2,000 Mexican soldiers. Immortalized today in a statue on horseback in a park outside of Puebla, at the site of the battlefield.

MAXIMILIAN Arrived in June 1864 in Mexico City Crowned Emperor of the “Mexican Empire” Brought many positive changes to country Overthrown, tried and executed May 1867

THE BATTLE 7,000 French soldiers marched toward Mexico City in April, expecting the people to welcome them. More than 1,000 French died at the two forts where the Mexicans awaited. General Zaragoza and 2,000 soldiers met the French at the forts of Loreto and Guadalupe, near Puebla. On May 5th, the small Mexican army won the battle, but not the war.

WON THE BATTLE AT PUEBLA, MAY 5, 1862 A national holiday in Mexico. Celebrating Mexican freedom from foreign intervention. Victory over the world’s greatest army. A time to celebrate solidarity among Mexican Americans.