[Video] Today in History- Cinco de Mayo and the Battle of Puebla

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Today in History:
Cinco de Mayo and the Battle of Puebla
5.5.1862

Today in history, on May 5, 1862, Mexican forces achieved a remarkable victory against the French army at the Battle of Puebla. Outnumbered and outgunned, the Mexican troops, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, successfully repelled the invading forces of Napoleon III, marking a powerful moment of national resistance.

The French had intended to establish a monarchy in Mexico and expand their influence in the Americas. But at Puebla, Mexican soldiers, many of them poorly equipped and vastly outnumbered, stood their ground and forced the French to retreat. Though the French would later occupy Mexico City, the Battle of Puebla became a lasting symbol of Mexican resilience and unity in the face of foreign aggression.

This underdog victory is commemorated each year as Cinco de Mayo—not Mexico’s Independence Day, but a celebration of courage and patriotism. While it’s widely observed in the U.S. with parades and festivities, especially in Mexican-American communities, in Mexico the holiday is primarily celebrated in the state of Puebla.

Cinco de Mayo reminds us that determination and unity can triumph against the odds, and it honors a proud moment in Mexico’s fight for sovereignty.