Widely mistaken for the Mexican Independence Day (which is celebrated on September 16), Cinco de Mayo celebrates the Mexican army's victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.
It all began in 1861, when war-beaten Mexican President Benito Juarez issued a moratorium which stated that all foreign debt payments would be put on suspension for two years, which Juarez hoped would be enough time to let the country recuperate from the Mexican-American war, which was fought from 1864 to 1848.
The English, Spanish, and French wouldn't have any of this, and they all soon invaded Mexico with the purpose of getting their payments. The Spanish and the English withdrew shortly after their invasion, but the French persisted in their conquest.
In 1862, the French army began its advance on the Mexican armed forces, which was comprised almost entirely of Zapotec and Mestizo Indians. On May 5, the poorly-equipped Mexican army lead by General Ignacio Zaragoza defeated the French invaders at the "Batalla de Puebla."
The victory was short-lived, but the Battle of Puebla was able to prove to the rest of the world that no matter its circumstances, Mexico and its citizens were more than willing to fight off foreign threats.
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