Cinco de Mayo, year after year what was once a political victory and morale boost for a struggling country has been transformed into a marketing tool for many products such as beer , chips, guacamole and simply another reason to celebrate. Cinco de Mayo has become part of mainstream US society and is treated like every other holiday invented in the US just so all the companies promoting them can line their pockets. If the French had successfully invaded Mexico, how would things have changed? How different Mexico would be or how much the United States would change. Who were the people involved in the battle that are never mentioned when people are out celebrating and what was their significance. Before we can really dig deeper into how this day is constantly confused with Mexican Independence Day, we need to look at the people involved and what their actions meant when the French were defeated. Mexico was dealing with the effects of the Mexican-American War in 1846-1848 and the Mexican Civil War in 1858 and had left it nearly bankrupt and with no ability to repay the money it owed to many world powers England, Spain. and France. Mexican President Benito Juarez has suspended the payment of all foreign debt. In an attempt to recover the money owed to them, the French asked the Spanish and English for help in invading Mexican territory to force their hand. But it has been said that the French's real motivations were not just a question of money, but a way to enter the United States once they had overcome whatever Mexican resistance they faced. Napoleon III used the excuse of Mexico owing him money as a way to get other countries to take control of Mexico and set up his empire in Latin America.... middle of paper... off. So why is Cinco de Mayo celebrated in the United States when many of the people celebrating do not know the significance of the event. St. Patrick's Day has really become a day where people wear stereotypical clothes that are supposed to represent the Irish and you see everyone wearing green. People drink margaritas; wear sombreros, ponchos and mustaches. It's okay if you want to celebrate, just know what you're celebrating and don't be stereotyped by wearing clothes that people associate with Mexico. The meaning and reason to celebrate Cinco de mayo has changed over the years, but I believe it now represents how Mexico has been attacked many times and on that very day they managed to win with all the odds against them They. It shows that self-determination and heart can overcome almost anything when things don't go your way.