Cinco de Mayo and the Rise of Modern Mexico (2022)
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The Story of Portfillo Diaz
Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1821 and almost immediately. Two major factions among Mexicans and conservatives in the Liberals start to do battle with one another for control over the Mexican state. There are 50 coups in Mexico. In 1846, while Portfillo was stuck in seminary, something happened that sent a jolt of inspiration through him. The United States decides to invade Mexico and to seize the northern half of the Mexican land base. And after two bloody years of fighting, in 1848, Mexico was forced to give up a huge chunk of its land to the U.S., increasing the size of the U.s. by one-third.
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