Cinco de Mayo"After Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821, it faced internal power struggles that left it in an unstable state of rebellion and instability for years." In 1846, the Mexican government, under dictator Santa Anna, went to war against the United States. As a result of this war, Mexico lost much of its land, the land we know today as Texas. In 1854, Juan Alvarez and his troops led a successful revolt to remove Santa Anna from power. One of Alvarez's strongest supporters was a man named Benito Juarez, a Zapotec Indian leader. In 1855, Juarez became Minister of Justice under the new regime and promulgated two controversial new laws. One denied the right of the Church and military courts to judge civil cases and the other legalized the sale and distribution of Church lands. Many people disagreed with these laws and for three years a civil war raged between the two sides. In 1861, Juarez took control of the capital, Mexico City, and put his new Constitution into effect. Not only had Juarez's laws divided the country, but they also caused civil war that left Juarez in debt to Spain, England, and France. The three countries were concerned about the debt and so held a meeting in London in which Spain and Britain agreed to waive the debt in exchange for military control of the Vera Cruz Customs House. France did not accept these terms and invaded Mexico in 1861 in hopes of defeating the country and getting rid of Juarez. French troops, considered among the best trained and equipped in the world, entered the city of Puebla on May 5, 1862, expecting no resistance. The French army consisted of 6,000 men under the command of Marshal Lorencz. The French were met by an armed force of 2,000 peasants under the command of General Ignacio Zaragoza. Mexican guerrilla forces successfully defended their positions and attacked and repulsed the French forces. The victory was, however, short-lived. Within a year, France had successfully conquered Puebla and the rest of Mexico and ruled there until 1867, when Juarez was once again restored to power. He ruled the country until his death in 1872. Cinco de Mayo therefore does not celebrate the independence of Mexico, but rather symbolizes "the right of the people to self-determination and national sovereignty, as well as the ability of non- Europeans to defend these rights against modern military organizations.