Cinco de Mayo!
Why do we celebrate this day, while the Mexicans do not?
That is not exactly true. It is celebrated in Puebla, where the battle was fought. El Dia de la Batalla de Puebla. 4,500 poorly equipped Mexican soldiers fought 8,000 French regulars in 1862. The Mexican army, under General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin, trounced the French, who had the best army in the world.
For Mexico, it is just one battle of many that lead to thier independence. It was very important, however, for the United States. Consider the dates. Just over a year later, the Grand Army of the Republic smashed the Confederate Army at Vicksburg and Gettysburg, effectively ending the Civil War. Those 8,000 French soldiers would have been of considerable use to the Confederacy. Especially since France, with such a presence in North America, could easily have sent 30,000 more, as they did to quell the rebellion in Mexico.
If the French had managed to get through, the Civil War would have gone differently. The result would have been the same (the Union had built to many railroad lines and telegraph networks), but it could have taken a many more years.
Think about all of this as you eat Mexican food and drink Mexican beer. Celebrate Cinco de Mayo!
Viva Mexico!
Why do we celebrate this day, while the Mexicans do not?
That is not exactly true. It is celebrated in Puebla, where the battle was fought. El Dia de la Batalla de Puebla. 4,500 poorly equipped Mexican soldiers fought 8,000 French regulars in 1862. The Mexican army, under General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin, trounced the French, who had the best army in the world.
For Mexico, it is just one battle of many that lead to thier independence. It was very important, however, for the United States. Consider the dates. Just over a year later, the Grand Army of the Republic smashed the Confederate Army at Vicksburg and Gettysburg, effectively ending the Civil War. Those 8,000 French soldiers would have been of considerable use to the Confederacy. Especially since France, with such a presence in North America, could easily have sent 30,000 more, as they did to quell the rebellion in Mexico.
If the French had managed to get through, the Civil War would have gone differently. The result would have been the same (the Union had built to many railroad lines and telegraph networks), but it could have taken a many more years.
Think about all of this as you eat Mexican food and drink Mexican beer. Celebrate Cinco de Mayo!
Viva Mexico!
oracle:
Im in for any excuse to drink.