Cinco de Mayo is a date of great importance for the Mexican and Chicano communities. It marks the victory of the Mexican Army over the French at the Battle of Puebla. Although the Mexican army was eventually defeated, the "Batalla de Puebla" came to represent a symbol of Mexican unity and patriotism. With this victory, Mexico demonstrated to the world that Mexico and all Latin America were willing to defend themselves of any foreign intervention. They also knew that from then on the other countries would respect them like they should be respected.

During the 1850's Mexico entered a period of national crisis. Years of not only fighting the Americans but also a Civil War, had left Mexico devastated and bankrupt. In 1858, Benito Juarez was elected President of the United States of Mexico to defend the Mexican Constitution established on February 5, 1857. (Rummel, pg.56) He had...