Feliz el dia de la battala de Puebla

Did anyone celebrate Cinco de Mayo? It's said that the defeat of the French at the Battle of Puebla affected our Civil War. In 1862, the Mexican government was pretty much bankrupt. It owed mucho dinero to European creditors, especially Great Britain, France, and Spain. Britain and Spain struck deals to eventually get paid. But the French emperor, Napoleon III, had a different idea. At that time, the US Confederacy was doing well against the Union forces. With better weaponry, the southern states might win full independence. Also, France wanted cotton, which the CSA could supply. But the Union blockade prevented such trading. So if the French could establish a foothold in Mexico, they could get cheap cotton, and the Confederacy could get modern weapons and ordnance. So in early 1862, France invaded Mexico. But on May 5, the French forces were soundly and unexpectedly defeated by a rag-tag Mexican army at Puebla. Which is southeast of Mexico City. A year later, France ultimately did prevail and occupy Mexico. But by then, the Union army was beating the Confederates. And it was likely that the CSA's days were numbered. Cinco de Mayo is much more celebrated in the US than in Mexico. If France had won the battle of Puebla in 1862, the US might be 2 separate nations today. Which is kinda is as far as politics. goes. But that's off-topic.