Many people think of the Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo (that's "the fifth of May") as Mexico's Fourth of July.

While it is a celebration of national pride, it commemorates defending independence, not gaining it.

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In 1862, Mexico was still recovering from the Mexican-American war -- which resulted in large parts of what is now the southwestern United States changing hands -- and a three-year civil war.

France sent its army and navy to collect debts incurred by the nation. When they could not be paid, Napoleon III tried to take over the country. His troops set on a 225-mile march to take Mexico City.

On May 5, the 7,000 troops met 2,000 Mexican soldiers under Gen. Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin at the city of Puebla. After a day-long battle, the French forces were turned away.

The French eventually would win and two years later establish Maximilian as emperor. In 1867, he was captured, tried and executed by Mexican republicans.

Mexico's independence from Spain is celebrated on Sept. 16.