Taxes, Not Tequila: What You Should Know About Cinco De Mayo
Our neighbor to the south is in the news a lot lately, so
it's a good time to shore up your knowledge of Mexican history - and what
better day to start than Cinco de Mayo? And here's the most important fact to
know: contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo isn't Mexican Independence Day.
Mexican Independence Day, which is a national public holiday, is celebrated on
September 16 (be sure and drop that casually tonight over tequila shots and
margaritas and you'll sound super smart). In contrast, Cinco de Mayo is the
anniversary of the Mexican army's victory over France at the Battle of Puebla
during the Franco-Mexican War in 1862.
it's a good time to shore up your knowledge of Mexican history - and what
better day to start than Cinco de Mayo? And here's the most important fact to
know: contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo isn't Mexican Independence Day.
Mexican Independence Day, which is a national public holiday, is celebrated on
September 16 (be sure and drop that casually tonight over tequila shots and
margaritas and you'll sound super smart). In contrast, Cinco de Mayo is the
anniversary of the Mexican army's victory over France at the Battle of Puebla
during the Franco-Mexican War in 1862.
I know what you're thinking: why is one win so important?
Like much of history, it's because the win - much like, say, our Battle of
Germantown - gave the revolutionaries hope.
Like much of history, it's because the win - much like, say, our Battle of
Germantown - gave the revolutionaries hope.
As in the United States, Mexico struggled to find its
footing as a new country. After gaining independence from Spain in 1822, Mexico
juggled a few different kinds of governance. Eventually, the country separated
into two parties: Liberals and Conservatives. Conservatives tended to side with
more traditional, European policies, including a number of privileges granted
to the Catholic Church. Among those privileges were a number of exemptions from
tax. In contrast, the Liberals weren't keen on the granting the Catholic Church
any special privileges and sought instead to limit them.
footing as a new country. After gaining independence from Spain in 1822, Mexico
juggled a few different kinds of governance. Eventually, the country separated
into two parties: Liberals and Conservatives. Conservatives tended to side with
more traditional, European policies, including a number of privileges granted
to the Catholic Church. Among those privileges were a number of exemptions from
tax. In contrast, the Liberals weren't keen on the granting the Catholic Church
any special privileges and sought instead to limit them.
In the mid-19th century, the Liberals rose to power. Part of
their agenda included passing a number of "Liberal Reform Laws." The
first of those laws, the Juárez Law (named after former Mexican President
Benito Juárez), was meant to restrict the authority and scope of the Church
courts. A second law, the Lerdo Law (named after former Treasury Secretary
Miguel Lerdo de Tejada) allowed the government to confiscate Church land and -
you guessed it - tax it. A third law, the Iglesias Law (named after
controversial interim President José María Iglesias - sorry, Mom, not Julio),
put further restrictions on the clergy.
their agenda included passing a number of "Liberal Reform Laws." The
first of those laws, the Juárez Law (named after former Mexican President
Benito Juárez), was meant to restrict the authority and scope of the Church
courts. A second law, the Lerdo Law (named after former Treasury Secretary
Miguel Lerdo de Tejada) allowed the government to confiscate Church land and -
you guessed it - tax it. A third law, the Iglesias Law (named after
controversial interim President José María Iglesias - sorry, Mom, not Julio),
put further restrictions on the clergy.
As you can imagine, as more and more laws were passed which
restricted the rights of the Church, the Conservatives became agitated.
Eventually, the two factions - the Liberals and the Conservatives - went to
war. The civil war happened at roughly the same time as the one in the United
States which would have significance here at home (trust me, keep reading).
restricted the rights of the Church, the Conservatives became agitated.
Eventually, the two factions - the Liberals and the Conservatives - went to
war. The civil war happened at roughly the same time as the one in the United
States which would have significance here at home (trust me, keep reading).
Wars, of course, are expensive. And while most of Europe was
happy to stay out of conflicts in the Americas, they weren't keen on losing
resources, including money. So when, in 1861, then President Mexican Benito
Juárez defaulted on a series of debts owed to European countries, the Europeans
sent the equivalent of armed thugs to Veracruz to collect. Eventually, Britain
and Spain negotiated a deal and returned home but France, spurred on by
Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte (also called Napoleon III), stayed, determined to make
a statement and perhaps snag some additional land. That was the beginning of
the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867).
happy to stay out of conflicts in the Americas, they weren't keen on losing
resources, including money. So when, in 1861, then President Mexican Benito
Juárez defaulted on a series of debts owed to European countries, the Europeans
sent the equivalent of armed thugs to Veracruz to collect. Eventually, Britain
and Spain negotiated a deal and returned home but France, spurred on by
Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte (also called Napoleon III), stayed, determined to make
a statement and perhaps snag some additional land. That was the beginning of
the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867).
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