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To understand why Puebla is such a big deal in Mexico, you have to first understand some of the precursors of the battle.

Mexican president, Benito Juaréz, was elected in 1958 and in that same year he declared that cease-payment of any foreign debt for the next two years. This did not go over well with the Europeans (Spain, England & France) and a treaty was made between the three European powers about how they were going to settle this debt. They signed a treaty called the "Treaty of London" in 1861 that declared that would put pressure on Mexico by blockading it's ports.

Unfortunately, France had another idea in mind. French leader, Napolean III wanted to overthrow the Mexican government and establish his own government in Mexico (and Central America as well). Not happy with this, England and Spain pulled their troops out of Mexico and left France to fend for themself.

This is where things start to get bad. The French troops, lead by Charles de Lorencez, start picking small battles with Mexico, all of which they win. The French have large troops and they are better trained and armed then the Mexican armies.

On December 8th, 1961 French troops occupied the city of Veracruz. The Mexicans had formed a temporary truce with the French and the French were to retreat from inner Mexico back to the coast. When the Mexican people saw the French forces walking around with rifles in hand though, they believed that the French were going to attack again and so, they followed the French troops and the two armies clashed in Alcuzingo on April 28, 1962. The Mexican army, led by Ignacio Zaragoza, was badly beaten and so Zaragoza took his troops to Puebla, a city that was strongly reinforced and had been held against outside forces for many years.

The French were under the impression that Pueblo was a friendly towards the French and that they would overrun the Mexican Army from within as soon as the French army appeared. He was wrong.

The French army began to attack Puebla on May 5th, 1962. By late in the afternoon though, the French had run out of artillery and had to send in foot troops to fight. The Mexican army was easily able to beat them.

This is why the Victory at Puebla is such a important win for the Mexicans. The Mexican people were very low on moral at this point in the French-Mexican war and had little hopes that they would actually be able to beat the French. This battle was able to raise the moral of the troops and give them the hope and ambition that they need to keep fighting.

Even with this win though, the French managed to overtake Mexico City (the capital) and put a French leader in government for several years before the Mexicans could retake the throne.

This is also why Mexicans (especially Poblanos (People from Puebla)) celebrate "Cinco de Mayo". It is not the Mexican Independence Day, but rather the day that the Mexican people regained their hope of winning.

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12y ago
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11y ago

The Mexican forces won the Battle of Puebla against great odds. Not only did French forces outnumber Mexican forces by double, they were better equipped and had not been defeated in almost 50 years. Since that victory, no country in the Americas has been invaded by a European military force.

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8y ago

Commonly mistaken for the Mexican independence day, the "Cinco de Mayo" celebration commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza. The Battle was important because 4,000 Mexican soldiers defeated a much better-equipped French army composed of 8,000 men that had not been defeated for almost 50 years.

No longer a local celebration held only at the city of Puebla, the holiday is now widely celebrated among Mexicans, Mexican-Americans and many others. It is a source of great pride pride among Mexicans - defeating the best army in the world at the time, when outnumbered by two to one.

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10y ago

By capturing the capital of Mexico, Gen. Winfield Scott put an end of the Mexican-American War (1846-1848).

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11y ago

Because, the chicken was gone

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Q: Why was the initial victory at Puebla importiant in Mexician history?
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