The Mexican-American War: A Historic Review

Almost 8 years to this day, local Mexican soldiers blocked U.S. Marines from acting as funeral Honor Guard to a Mexican immigrant-turned Marine soldier named Juan Lopez Rangel—who was killed in Iraq. The Marines, carrying replica rifles, were escorted from the grave site to their Embassy vehicle and surrounded by more Mexican troops while the band continued to play taps. The whole thing would have been a mutual international embarrassment but the media got distracted by the death of Marlon Brando.

Almost 166 years to this day, Commodore John Sloat landed in California and claimed the Mexican territory for the United States.

Running Time: 1846-1848 (inspiring the more concise name “Guerra del 47”)

Setting: Texas, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Old Mexico…er, regular Mexico.

Concept (to Americans): Defending Texas…well…not really. Americans wanted to fulfill their “Manifest Destiny”; the assumption that America was always intended to stretch from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. However, the country was not ready for imperial intentions and so needed the thinnest veil of a “defensive response” ever calculated--which meant defending the newly independent Texas.

Concept (to Mexicans): Defending Mexico…well…not really. They had lost Texas during that war of independence, and most other nations begged Mexico to let the land go as Mexico had asked foreigners (Americans) to come to Texas and cultivate the land years ago. Beyond that, the treaty signed by Mexicans to end the war ceded said land.

Before the War: While Mexico achieved it’s own independence from a European power shortly after the United States, its territory was much harder to transverse and the Spanish had not left the infrastructure the Americans so readily inherited from the British. So Mexico gave away vast amounts of land to Americans (Sam Houston, others) under the assumption that one day those Americans will just become Mexican. Go figure, it didn’t really work out that way and the Texans seceded from Mexico. Mexican General Santa Anna tried to crush the rebellion but was sent home packing after—and this is huge—signing a treaty that redrew the Texas-Mexico border. President James K. Polk—inappropriately eulogized in this previous post—offered Mexico $30 million for the hard feelings.

The Opening Shot: The Mexicans were absolutely agast that Texans would move the border but America applauded the moxie and let Texas into the Union despite rampant Northern fears of expanding slavery. Partially concerned that Mexico would attack America’s newest state, partially wanting Mexico to attack, President Polk sent General Zachary Taylor and his army to protect the border claimed on rather dubious grounds. Mexico saw this as an invasion and attacked. Future general and American president, Ulysses S. Grant called the war, “one of the most unjust ever.” As did a young Abraham Lincoln. Fair or foul, both countries declared war over a piece of land, not 1/10th the size of modern Texas.

Anymore, America would probably give this land back

in exchange for three trucks filled with guacamole.

The Plot: In short, very, very little went right for Mexico. Within days, Americans won battles at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. While America declared war in supposed “self-defense,” it became immediately clear that this would be a war only won through invasion. In a disheartening display of déjà vu, the Americans largely invaded Mexico much like the conquistadors. Much like then, the defending Mexican forces failed to unite against the invaders. The internal political, economic and social strife in Mexico made them as ready to defend themselves as a bunch of extras in a Roland Emmerich film. The war essentially became a race to Mexico City between American generals Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott.

Any Twists?: Nearly every unusual aspect of this rather drab war can be connected to Mexican general, and perpetual President, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Immortalized by the Pyrrhic victory at the Alamo during the Texas Revolution, signing the Rio Grande-border treaty, stealing from churches and marrying a 15-year-old (when he was 50), Santa Anna rarely went a week before doing something catastrophically insane. During the invasion, Santa Anna promised the American forces he could declare peace within Mexico if the Americans just gave him $100,000 and a few days. Stunning absolutely nobody besides the Flanders-esque sap that handed over the sack of money, Santa Anna immediately negated, ran off with the small American fortune and mounted an ineffectual counter-attack.

After the War: America paid Mexico $15 million for Texas, California, Arizona, New Mexico and parts of Colorado and Utah. Mainly a public relations move, this international “hush money” relieved many Americans who were afraid their nation had unlawfully conquered the land. Within the next couple of years, $200 million worth of gold would be extracted from California alone. Meanwhile, Mexico was crushed and broke in almost every aspect and suffered internal violence and a devastating cholera outbreak. There was also a funeral procession for Santa Anna’s amputated leg. Not Santa Anna himself, mind you….but his leg.

Contemporary Controversy: To this day, historians heartily debate President Polk’s intentions. Did he even want to buy the land from Mexico or was war always planned? Was the war inevitable? Why would anybody fight over Texas? And, seriously, a funeral for a leg?

Foreshadowing: All this new land for America immediately resurrected the debate over American slavery and eventually brokered the Compromise of 1850—which held off the Civil War until deadlier weapons could be manufactured. The Mexican-American War also became something akin to “The Outsiders” for Civil War buffs, as many famed generals cut their teeth (is that the expression?) in Mexico. Mexican War veteran PT Beauregard attacked Fort Sumpter; Jefferson Davis became the CSA President; George McClellan protected Washington, D.C.; James Longstreet and Winfield Scott Hancock fought at Gettysburg. Most notably, Robert E. Lee and Grant served together, which Grant fondly remembered when the two met again at the Appomattox Court House.

Sub-plot: The Annexation of all of Mexico. After American forces took the capital city and the peace treaties were being drawn up, some Americans voiced confusion if Mexico was even a country any more. For bad or worse, America did not absorb all of Mexico out of sheer racism. The land obtained (Utah, Arizona, etc.) was considered empty and so more valuable than picking up a few million more citizens who don’t speak English. Beyond that, racist Americans could not agree between themselves if Mexican citizens would become American citizens or American slaves.

Film adaptation: I’m going to go with “Bad Boys.” Like that film, the Mexican-American War was hard to understand, loud, pointless, the precipice of disaster and all the while catapulting the early careers of madmen.

Glory level: High at first, as America doesn’t do anything with any collective passion other than going to war. Later, the glory dissipated as none of the victories, or defeats, inspired songs, stories or heroes. Now the glory level is among the lowest of all American wars.

Influence level: Low, then high. The conflict was too short to change the tactics of war or introduce any new technology. However, the war did foster a still-lingering sense of distrust and racism on both sides of the border.

As a distant point to make, Puerto Rico should probably become a state, if only for the party. It’s been a while since we have had a national celebration and I don’t like the OCD people--who think 50 is “just a nice, even, number”--holding us back. Come on, Puerto Rico, jump in! Join America. The water is fine.