Answer to Cinco de Mayo challenge
Congratulations to ns_kuhimo, who knew the history behind Cinco de Mayo.
Mexico declared its independence from Spain on September 16, 1810. Cinco de Mayo refers to the battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, against the forces of Napoleon III of France.
The president of Mexico, Benito Juarez, found that his country was bankrupt and suspended debt payment for two years. The US said, "That's cool, as long as you pay us in two years." France said, "We want our money now! Invade!" In reality, France wanted to establish a colony in the Americas, and this was the perfect excuse. On May 5, Napoleon's forces invaded Puebla. Though outnumbered and outgunned, the Mexicans in Puebla, including boys from a local military academy, defeated them.
Back in the US, the South was winning the Civil War with the help of - you guessed it - Napoleon III. After the battle of Puebla, Napoleon withdrew all of his resources to focus on the conquest of Mexico. While Napoleon (temporarily) won Mexico, the South lost the Civil War. It's quite possible that without Cinco de Mayo we wouldn't be the United States of America.
Maximilian and Carlota of Austria were installed as the Emperor and Empress of Mexico by Napoleon III. The US didn't like this any more than Mexico, since it violated the principles of the Monroe Doctrine (America for Americans, not Europeans.) The US sent soldiers down to help the Mexicans overthrow the Emperor and regain their independence. In theory, the celebration of Cinco de Mayo was brought back to this country by returning American soldiers.
In reality, Cinco de Mayo isn't even a major holiday in Mexico, except in Puebla (where I lived! :-) )
In the final quarter of the 20th century, Mexican-Americans turned Cinco de Mayo into a celebration of ethnic pride, much like Irish-Americans did with St. Patrick's Day in the late 18th century. Cinco de Mayo is second only to St. Patrick's Day when it comes to the consumption of beer in the US.
!Viva Mexico!