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Cinco de Mayo-May, 1862. 4,000 Mexican soldiers defeated the French and Conservative Mexican army of 8,000 at Puebla, Mexico, 100 miles east of Mexico City on the morning of May 5, 1862. Led by Texas born General Ignacio Zaragoza and made up of ill-equipped Mestizos and Zapotec Indians
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Cinco de Mayo-May, 1862 4,000 Mexican soldiers defeated the French and Conservative Mexican army of 8,000 at Puebla, Mexico, 100 miles east of Mexico City on the morning of May 5, 1862. Led by Texas born General Ignacio Zaragoza and made up of ill-equipped Mestizos and Zapotec Indians The French landed in Mexico (along with Spanish and English troops) five months earlier on the pretext of collecting Mexican debts from the democratically elected government President Benito Juarez. The "Batalla de Puebla" represents a symbol of Mexican unity and patriotism. Mexico demonstrated to the world that its people were willing to defend themselves against any foreign intervention.
Cinco de Mayo This battle is a defining moment for Mexico because its national identity still suffered from the loss of territory to the United States in 1835 and 1848. The victory over the French contributed to Benito Juárez’s image as a savior of its national heritage. The young regime of Benito Juárez was in an extremely fragile position after defeating the Conservative party in the 1858-1861 War of the Reform. The war had continued to decimate the Mexican economy, but had allowed the Liberals to begin minimizing the influence of the Catholic Church by officially declaring a “Separation of Church and State.” Napoleon III taking advantage of Mexico’s vulnerability and with the support of the Mexican Conservatives hoped to establish a new empire in the Americas. Puebla was the key to taking Mexico City Conservatives hoped to regain control of México with French aid
The Republic of México in 1862 • Population: • 1857 Constitution • Elected Representatives • Protected Freedoms: Speech, Press, etc… • Commitment of capitalist development • Separation of Church and State • Beginning of a strong centralized government
Primary Actors • Benito Juárez, President of México • Ignacio Zaragoza, General of the Mexican defense at Puebla - Native Texan • France - Invaders • Napoleon III, Emperor of France
General Ignacio Zaragoza here defended the integrity of the Republic in 1862
This is the view of the Mexican army defending Puebla looking down the hill. The French marched up this direction attacking the fort.
Side view of the fort.These are the actual cannons that were used to defend the fort.They have been refurbished.
This wall is about ten feet high. The French had to enter the trench and scale the wall.
Image taken from the bottom of the ten foot wall in the trench.
Another view of the trench and walls of the fort at Puebla. The tower on the right was occupied by riflemen who shot down at the French trying to scale the walls.
Image of the center of the fort. This wall is a secondary wall meant to defend the fort’s headquarters if the first ten foot wall was penetrated.
Memorial to the Mexicans who died defending Puebla from the French
Memorial to Benito Juárez at site of the battlefield at Puebla
