Answer:
As a reaction to Juarez's decision to prolong paying off the national debt, France, Spain and Italy sent military forces to Mexico in order to force the payment, which ended up unleashing the Battle of Puebla, remembered in Mexican historiography as Cinco de Mayo.
Explanation:
Cinco de Mayo is a regional holiday in Mexico that is mainly celebrated in the state of Puebla. The day is celebrated to remember the first victory the Mexican forces won, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, over the French forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.
In 1861, Mexico had stopped making interest payments on loans raised by the state. This caused France and other European countries to attack Mexico in late 1861 to try to force the country to continue making interest payments. The French government decided to try to occupy Mexico. The first part of France's invasion was successful, but on May 5, 1862, in the city of Puebla, Mexican troops managed to fight back the French army's attack. In the battle of Puebla, the Mexican army was led by General Ignacio Zaragoza. Although the Mexican army won over France in Puebla, it only meant that the advance of the French troops was delayed to the capital Mexico City, which they occupied a year later, as well as other large parts of Mexico. The French occupation forces let Maximilian I, Emperor of Mexico, take Mexico's faith. The French were defeated in 1867 and then forced out of the country.
