<P> Late in 1861 , a well - armed French fleet stormed Veracruz , landing a large French force and driving President Juárez and his government into retreat . Moving on from Veracruz towards Mexico City , the French army encountered heavy resistance from the Mexicans close to Puebla , at the Mexican forts of Loreto and Guadalupe . The French army of 8,000 attacked the poorly equipped Mexican army of 4,000 . On May 5 , 1862 , the Mexicans decisively defeated the French army . The victory represented a significant morale boost to the Mexican army and the Mexican people at large and helped establish a sense of national unity and patriotism . </P>
<P> Late in 1861 , a well - armed French fleet stormed Veracruz , landing a large French force and driving President Juárez and his government into retreat . Moving on from Veracruz towards Mexico City , the French army encountered heavy resistance from the Mexicans close to Puebla , at the Mexican forts of Loreto and Guadalupe . The French army of 8,000 attacked the poorly equipped Mexican army of 4,000 . On May 5 , 1862 , the Mexicans decisively defeated the French army . The victory represented a significant morale boost to the Mexican army and the Mexican people at large and helped establish a sense of national unity and patriotism . </P>
where did the battle of cinco de mayo take place
where did the battle of cinco de mayo take place
Puebla
Puebla