After the American civil war ended, Mexico fought with the US
over the annexation of Texas. Instead of winning Texas back Mexico lost most of
present-day California, Utah, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico. A decade later
Mexico was involved in its own civil war to decide how much influence the
Catholic Church should have over the country. War is such expensive business.
In 1861 Mexico announced it could no longer repay its foreign debt. France sent
an army to repossess. May 5, 1862 the French attacked two forts near Puebla.
Though they were poorly equipped and outnumbered two to one, the Mexicans won
the battle. They eventually lost the war and the French held Mexico until 1867 –
which may explain why Mexico doesn’t really celebrate Cinco de Mayo. It’s a
bigger deal in the parts of the US that used to be Mexico. Who doesn’t love a
good David and Goliath story?
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