Happy Cinco de Mayo! WI Mexicans lose Battle of Puebla?

The Battle of Peubla only briefly halted the French invasion of Mexico, but the Mexicans celebrated the victory and made it a national holiday, Cinco De Mayo. So what if the Mexicans lost? Could it lead to an earlier, more stable Mexican Empire? Would earlier French victory have any effect on the American Civil War? DISCUSS!

Also, happy Cinco de Mayo.
 
A French victory would ultimately be taken much worse than OTL. France was in clear violation of the Monroe Doctrine, so the USA takes umbrage at this (and Nappy III's development of relations with Britain will be more strained).
 
Well if the Mexican Empire survives my family doesn't flee to Baja and leave behind our massive plot of land in Central Mexico out of fear that the "freedom fighters" would do to them what they had done to the Emperor. I wouldn't exist but my family would still have a title and would still be autocratic conservatives as would a number of other Mexicans.

On a broader bases It is quite possible that the French use Mexico as a base to more actively help the Confederacy. I don't think Britian would get involved in the Civil war but France might which might lead to Russia declaring war on France and coming to the aid of their American friends.
 
France still loses and Maximilian gets shot.

It's just a temporary setback.

I agree. The Battle of Puebla wasn't even that decisive of a battle. France hadn't abandoned Maximilian yet, and when they did it wasn't because the lost this battle but because they became engaged in another war against Prussia. Unless they are doing, ASB-well in Mexico the French will drop the project and abandon Maximilian.
The reason the battle gained the prominence it did, was because Porfirio Diaz took part in it. It was perhaps the battle that originally made his name. When he became President of Mexico he overstated the importance of the battle and made it a celebration.
How it gained the prominence it did in the United States is one of the things of OTL that seem to come out of nowhere. Today, in Mexico (outside the heavy tourist spots and Puebla) not much attention is given to the date at all.

And even without Cino de Mayo, sorority girls would find an excuse to drink (it just might not be based around tequila) since it is basically just a celebration to kick start the summer.

In conclusion. Not much changes.
 
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