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I read with great interest the 5 de Mayo article regarding Maximilian and the French forces - all of which is true of course. However, it is my understanding that 5 de Mayo was first celebrated by the Americans, because of another French-related war that was waged against Mexico, after the French had been "kicked out".
This war is called (if I remember correctly) "La Guerra de los Panaderos". A succint recollection of this incident is as follows:
Apparently, Mexican nationals had vandalized bakeries still owned by the French in Mexico City, and a big riot broke out. The French demanded reparations for the French citizens, Mexico declined. It was at this time, that the French sent in troops to once again take over Mexico, but the Mexicans defeated them on May 5th. Mexicans themselves did not see it as a victory because they landed paying restitutions anyway and lost lives during the short lived war/battle.
Americans began to celebrate this occasion, because that was the last time a foreign country tried to take over a country in America, and they were defeated! This is a celebration of the Monroe doctrine, which was established to threaten any foreign powers in "re-taking" a country after they have become independent would not be tolerated or supported. Of course, that exempted the Americans themselves from invading Mexcio.
Mexico themselves never celebrated this occasion until recently.
Esperanza
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