El Cinco de Mayo

Without discussing your thoughts with anyone, decide what you know about Cinco de Mayo.

What is this day commemorating?

How do people in Mexico celebrate it?

How do people in America celebrate it?

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Discuss your current knowledge/opinions with your group.


Make a list of the 5 myths as you watch this video.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

MYTHS DEBUNKED ABOUT EL CINCO DE MAYO

Watch the video. Are you guilty of believing any of these?? Which ones did members of the group say they thought were true in the Pre-Video discussion?



Key word: Cultural Appropriation

This is when a person copies elements of another person's culture. Usually, a culture who really doesn't understand much about another's culture will rely on stereotypes and then act like those stereotypes are "celebrating" that culture.

Sometimes, the results are considered very disrespectful by some.

Can you think of ways that these different cultures are often misappropriated? Have a class/group discussion.

  • Native Americans

  • African Americans

  • Mexicans and Mexican Americans

  • Any others?


So, what is Cinco de Mayo?

Watch the videos and answer the following questions.

  1. What myth about Cinco de Mayo is the most important to get your information straight on? Why?

  2. What is Cultural Appropriation? Give an example. What is your opinion about this?

  3. Is Cinco de Mayo a Mexican or a US holiday? Clarify your answer.

  4. What is the día festivo (holiday) remembering? Be specific about why this event is worth remembering.

  5. What is the celebration a symbol of in Mexico? In the US?

  6. Where is it celebrated the most? The least?

  7. List some ways people celebrate Cinco de Mayo in the USA. Are any of these "Cultural Appropriation"?

  8. Do you celebrate Cinco de Mayo (or would you like to?) How would you most likely celebrate this day knowing what you know?

So, what is Cinco de Mayo really

Part 2 Making Connections

So, what created the situation which allowed Cinco de Mayo to even happen? Why were the French involved? Why didn't the United States help Mexico as allies to defeat the French? Isn't that what friends (neighbors) are for???

Work together to put together a timeline of relevant historical events that led up to the battle of Puebla and Cinco de Mayo. Use the reading and video resources posted AT THE BOTTOM of the webpage.


US and Mexico 1800s Timeline:

September _____, 1810: Mexico declares its independence. Miguel Hidalgo gave a famous speech, rallying the Mexican people together to fight for their independence.

1812: United States declares war on ________ (The War of 1812)

September 28, 1821: Mexico finally earned its independence from _______.

1823: The Monroe Doctrine, a US policy, made a legal statement by the US to European countries that they should no longer interfere with the free countries in the Americas; if they did, the US would view the action as hostile.

1845: United States annexed what is now the state of _________ from Mexico.

1846-48: USA and Mexico at war. It was called the Mexican-American war.

1857-1861: Mexico involved in a civil war called the Reform War

1860: ________ was elected US president.

1861: Confederate States of America formed in USA, which started the __________.

July, 1861: The Reform War ends; Mexico is in too much debt to function; the president, _________, made an official decree that Mexico would not pay back any debt for 2 years so they could recover. Mexico owed a lot of money to France, Great Britain and Spain.

1861: The countries of ________ and _________ agreed to honor the president's request. But, the nation of __________ did not and they decided to take over with the pretext that it would protect "free trade." They knew that the USA would not be able to honor their "Monroe Doctrine" due to their involvement in the Civil War.

May 5, 1862:

1863: Napoleon takes over the capital of Mexico, _____________. The French installed Austrian emperor Maximilian and his wife, ___________ as the puppet leaders.

1865: Civil War in USA ended.

1867: USA sent troops to help Mexico drive out Napoleon III's French troops. Napoleon surrendered and withdrew. The emperor was executed.

1940s: Celebrating Cinco de Mayo become popular in the US.