Readings for Cinco de Mayo!

The Battle of Puebla marked one of the most significant episodes in Mexican military history.
CC BY-SA 3.0

Cinco de Mayo represents a victory of David over the Goliath. The battle took place on 5 May 1862. Benito Juárez, then the President of Mexico suspended the debt payments to the Western creditors and the collecting nations menaced Mexico with the war and especially the French Empire that came to disagree with the decision invaded Mexico. Cinco de Mayo is one watershed event in the series of battles where the Mexican nation successfully fought against the French Imperialism and drove out the superior French forces defeated. The events on the French sides have been summarized in several books including in “Révélations sur l’intervention française au Mexique de 1866 à 1867, par F. de La Barreyrie,” and “Le Mexique au début du XXe siècle.” It is interesting to see the language that was used to justify the French invasion of Mexico. And also it intereting to see the societal discourse that was used in the proclamation of the French Emperor Napoleon the third. Does it remind us of some similar language in the recent history that is used by some in our own nation? Here are some of the archival documents that reflect the Mexican view.

Today, while some cherish the celebrations of mariachis, tacos, and margaritas on May 5th, the true meaning of the battle that took place on the Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a genuinely American Holiday. Below are books that one can read to reflect on this 5 de Mayo!

Finally, we leave you with a clip about La Batalla de Puebla by a well-known outcome Mexican historian, Paco Ignacio Taibo II.