Cinco de Mayo: NOT Mexico's Independence Day! | History In A Nutshell Shorts

Kaltura

Cinco de Mayo is commonly mistaken for Mexico's Independence Day.

May 5 commemorates the miraculous Mexican victory against Imperialist French forces at the Battle of Puebla. On May 5, 1862, 2,000 Mexicans fended off the much larger French force of 6,000 men! This truly underdog feat during the Second Franco-Mexican War became a source of pride for the Latino community in the U.S. Mexico’s Independence Day on the other hand is observed on September 16- that day commemorates the Cry of Dolores in 1810, which initiated the war of Mexican Independence from Spain.

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