008 Cinco de Mayo - One Minute History

Cinco de Mayo commemorates Mexico's victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. It is often mistaken for Mexican Independence Day, but it actually marks a symbolic victory that boosted Mexican resistance against French occupation. The battle occurred after Mexico, under President Benito Juarez, suspended foreign debt payments, prompting France to attempt to establish an empire in Mexico. Despite being outnumbered, the Mexican army, led by Ignacio Zaragoza, successfully repelled the French. Today, Cinco de Mayo is more widely celebrated in the United States than in Mexico.

What does Cinco de Mayo commemorate?

• Mexican independence from Spain

• Mexico's victory over French forces

• The end of the Mexican-American War

• The signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

What financial action did President Benito Juarez take that led to French intervention?

• He suspended repayment of foreign debts

• He devalued the Mexican peso

• He nationalized the banking system

• He increased taxes on foreign goods

Who led the Mexican army during the Battle of Puebla?

• Benito Juarez

• Porfirio Diaz

• Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna

• Ignacio Zaragoza

Why was the Battle of Puebla significant for Mexico?

• It led to Mexican independence

• It marked the end of French occupation

• It was a symbolic victory that boosted resistance

• It resulted in a peace treaty with France

Where is Cinco de Mayo more widely celebrated today?

• In Mexico

• In France

• In the United States

• In Spain