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The Mexican-American War was a war fought between the United States and Mexico between
1846 and 1848. It is also called the
US-Mexico War. In the US it is also known as the Mexican War; in Mexico it is also known as the
North American Invasion of Mexico, the United States War Against Mexico, and the War of
Northern Aggression (this last name is more commonly used in the Southern
United States to refer to the American Civil War).
The war grew out of the Mexican conflict with Texas. After having won its independence
from Mexico in 1836, the Republic of Texas was annexed by the United States in
1845; however, the Mexican government disputed the southern border of Texas. That same year
tensions between the two countries over territory were raised when the United States government offered to pay off the Mexican
debt to American settlers if Mexico allowed the U.S. to purchase the Mexican territories of California and New Mexico from Mexico, which some Mexicans
found offensive.
President James K. Polk ordered General Zachary Taylor to seize disputed Texan land settled by Mexicans. Fighting began in April 24, 1846 when Mexican cavalry entered an area claimed by both the US and Mexico, between the rivers Rio Grande and Nueces, and surrounded a US scouting
party under General Zachary Taylor; several were killed. After the
border clash and battles at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, the US Congress declared war on May 13, 1846. Northern Whigs generally opposed the declaration of war while Southerners supported it. Mexico declared war
on May 23.
After the United States declared war on Mexico, US forces took several cities in California including Los Angeles. The Battle of Monterrey took place in September of 1846. February 22, 1847 saw the battle of Buena Vista where General Taylor defeated the Mexicans under Antonio López de Santa Anna, securing the conquest
of California and New Mexico. The battles of Vera Cruz,
Cerro Gordo,
and then the Battle of Chapultepec (on the outskirts of
Mexico City) followed as the U.S army under General Winfield Scott drove into the heart of Mexico (his invasion started on March 9, 1847).
The Treaty of Cahuenga, signed on January 13, 1847, ended the fighting in California. The Treaty of
Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed on February 2, 1848, ended the War and gave the US undisputed control of Texas as well as California and most of Arizona and New Mexico.
An interesting side note of the war was the Saint Patrick's Battalion (San Patricios), a group, approximately 500-strong, of
(largely Irish-born) Americans who deserted the US Army in favor of the Mexican side.
Many of them fought against what they alleged was brutal, racist discrimination received from the US. Many identified with Mexico
as Catholics. They were hanged by the US; making sure that the last thing these
Irish men saw was the lowering of the Mexican flag and the raising of the U.S. flag as the war was won. Some historians claim
that these men were prisoners of war. Others argue that they were traitors and deserters. There are many monuments to these
soldiers in present-day Mexico.
According to data from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the last surviving U.S. veteran of the conflict, Owen Thomas Edgar,
died on September 3, 1929 at the age of
98.
The war is often considered an example of the US government's then-ongoing expansionist policies in North America, as defined
by the doctrine of Manifest Destiny.
Political Implications of the War
In the USA, the war was widely supported in the southern states but opposed in the northern states. This division largely
developed from expectations of how American expansion would affect the issue of slavery. At the time, Texas recognized the
institution of slavery, but Mexico did not. Many Northern abolitionists viewed the war as an attempt by the slave-owners to
expand slavery and assure their continued influence in the Federal government. Henry David Thoreau wrote his essay Civil Disobedience and refused to pay taxes because of this war.
See Also
External links
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