Question
In 1862, Mexico was struggling under massive foreign debt when European troops landed on their shores, claiming they were there to collect. An empire saw its chance to establish a foothold in the Americas. When thousands of imperial soldiers marched toward Mexico City, history was about to be made. Which empire's defeat do we celebrate on Cinco de Mayo?
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Correct Answer: French Empire
Mexico stunned the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, when 2,000 Mexican troops crushed Napoleon III's supposedly unbeatable army. The French returned with more firepower and took Mexico City a year later, but that didn't stop Puebla's unlikely victory from becoming a rallying cry for Mexican pride and independence.
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