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America had to win its independence only once but Mexico had to win its independence twice, once from Spain and then again from France. While the US was too busy with its Civil War to enforce the Monroe Doctrine, France's Louis Napoleon sent a French army to set Austrian Archduke Ferdinand up as Emperor of Mexico. On May 5th, 1865(?) Benito Juarez defeated the French army at Puebla and forced Napoleon to withdraw support from Ferdinand who was subsequently captured, tried and eventually executed in spite of the pleas of Empress Carlotta that her husband was the victim of another man's ambitions.

I guess you forgot about the War of 1812.

1862. And it was Archduke Maximilian.

(05-06-2013 08:11 AM)58-56 Wrote:  1862. And it was Archduke Maximilian.

Thanks for the correction on his name and the exact date. I'm getting rusty on some details that I haven't taught about since the 90s.

Hold the mayonnaise to you too.

"Cinco de Mayo"

Most people don't know that back in 1912, Hellmann's mayonnaise was manufactured in England. In fact, the Titanic was carrying 12,000 jars of the condiment scheduled for delivery in Vera Cruz, Mexico, which was to be the next port of call for the great ship after its stop in New York. This would have been the largest single shipment of mayonnaise ever delivered to Mexico. But as we know, the great ship did not make it to New York. The ship hit an iceberg and sank and the cargo was forever lost. The people of Mexico, who were crazy about mayonnaise, and were eagerly awaiting its delivery, were disconsolate at the loss. Their anguish was so great that they declared a National Day of Mourning which they still observe to this day. The National Day of Mourning occurs each year on May 5th and is known of course as "Sinko de Mayo."

(05-05-2013 09:27 PM)BlazerFromMD Wrote:  I guess you forgot about the War of 1812.

Thankfully, we will never know for sure what Britain would have done had Pakenham won the Battle of New Orleans. Some do suggest that they may have abrogated the Treaty of Ghent and renewed their attempt to take back their former colony. Since his remains were sent back home pickled in a keg of rum, we never had to find out.

(05-19-2013 05:27 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  

(05-05-2013 09:27 PM)BlazerFromMD Wrote:  I guess you forgot about the War of 1812.

Thankfully, we will never know for sure what Britain would have done had Pakenham won the Battle of New Orleans. Some do suggest that they may have abrogated the Treaty of Ghent and renewed their attempt to take back their former colony. Since his remains were sent back home pickled in a keg of rum, we never had to find out.

Don't forget that they sacked Washington and moved up the Chesapeake, only to be stymied at a little fort protecting Baltimore.

(05-19-2013 07:55 PM)BlazerFromMD Wrote:  

(05-19-2013 05:27 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  

(05-05-2013 09:27 PM)BlazerFromMD Wrote:  I guess you forgot about the War of 1812.

Thankfully, we will never know for sure what Britain would have done had Pakenham won the Battle of New Orleans. Some do suggest that they may have abrogated the Treaty of Ghent and renewed their attempt to take back their former colony. Since his remains were sent back home pickled in a keg of rum, we never had to find out.

Don't forget that they sacked Washington and moved up the Chesapeake, only to be stymied at a little fort protecting Baltimore.

That is a good photo of Ft McHenry. The Montgomery area is currently celebrating its connection with the (I believe) great grandson of the famous poet who observed that battle from a British warship and wrote a poem about it. The 1920s author was F(rancis) Scott (Key) Fitzgerald whose wife Zelda was from Montgomery and they lived there a year or so. Their house is now a local museum.The remake film based on that author's novel "The Great Gatsby" is being celebrated in Montgomery at this time.