Final answer:
The 16th of September commemorates Mexico's battle for independence from Spain starting in 1810, not the victory over French troops, which is celebrated on Cinco de Mayo. The question seems to confuse Mexican Independence Day with the Battle of Puebla against French forces. It’s vital to distinguish the two events as well as other historical conflicts Mexico faced in the 19th century.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 16th of September is significant in Mexican history as it marks the celebration of Mexico's victory in its fight for independence against Spanish rule, specifically remembering the Grito de Dolores, a call to arms that initiated the war of independence. However, the question seems to conflate this event with another significant date in Mexican history, the Battle of Puebla on Cinco de Mayo, where Mexican troops emerged victorious over French invading forces in 1862. It’s important to differentiate the two events: Mexico’s Independence Day, celebrated on September 16, commemorates the beginning of the struggle against Spanish colonial rule led by Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla in 1810, while Cinco de Mayo recognizes the unexpected victory over French forces in 1862.
During the 19th century, Mexico also faced other invasions and conflicts, including the American-led invasion by General Winfield Scott who captured Veracruz and eventually took Mexico City by September 14, 1847, leading to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo where Mexico lost significant territories. Moreover, the French, under Napoleon III, saw an opportunity to establish an empire in Mexico during the American Civil War's distraction. Despite Mexican forces defeating the French at Puebla, the French eventually conquered Mexico and imposed Emperor Maximilian, though his regime was short-lived and ended in 1867 with Mexico's reestablishment of independence under Benito Juárez.