Mexico engaged in a fierce battle with the United States from 1846 to 1848. The War was a historical event to both countries as it costed Mexico almost half of its entire national territory while at the same time provided the U.S access to western North America for expansion as both countries engaged in a devastating war. The war changed the perception of the native Americans towards the U.S, making them believe that the country was aggressive, arrogant, and imperialistic. The U.S annexed Texas in 1845, compelling Mexico to sever its relations. The Mexican President at that time, Jose Joaquin turned down U. S’s offer to purchase Texas. The act prompted James Polk; the then U.S President to order troops to occupy Nueces and the Rio Grande - the disputed area in 1846. Mexico responded by killing sixteen U.S soldiers, which prompted the U.S to join the War on claims of foreign invasion. Why does the Book, A Glorious Defeat: Mexico and Its War with the United States authored by Timothy Henderson, create a horrific picture of an apocalyptic 19th century Mexico and its northern territories? ( Pinheiro, 2008). Primarily, the author wants to inform the readers of the cruelty that defined the War. Moreover, the author’s intention was to expose to the reader the horrors that the U.S inflicted on the poor untrained Mexican soldiers who were defending their country.
The first chapter provides a background of Mexico, particularly its rise from colonialism while detailing the success of America as a federal republic. The section also compares wealth status between the two countries giving the U.S an upper hand while portraying the deep racial divisions and the failed system of mercantilism ( Pinheiro, 2008). The second chapter analyzes the beginning of conflict between the U.S and Mexico detailing how diplomacy collapsed leading to the decision by Mexico to sever diplomatic ties with the U.S. The third chapter investigates the problem of Texas and how it pitted Mexico against the U.S. Moreover, the chapter highlights the Texas Fredonian Revolt and the formation of the Texas Boundary Commission led by General Manuel de Mier Teran and later the ouster of Manuel Gomez Pedraza who was replaced by Vicente Guerrero. The chapter focused on the Texas Revolution under Santa Anna, detailing the causes of the revolution and its aftermath ( Pinheiro, 2008). Additionally, the chapter provides the war sequence, which eventually ushers in chapter five that looks into the elusive conquest and the attempts that the U.S made to conquer Texas during the two years of the Civil War. Chapter six dwells on the annexation crisis and how the U.S changed its mind from the initial plan annexing entire Mexico taking Texas, California, New England, among other territories. Chapter seven was the last in the book, and it provided details regarding the 1847 War, including the causes and the aftermath. Most significantly, the chapter highlights the treaties signed to mark the end of the War.
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The U.S President, Polk, engineered the War by twisting facts and creating circumstances that convinced the Congress that the War was inevitable. In particular, he started by sending John Slidell to Mexico with an offer that he knew would be rejected. Subsequently, his soldiers were attacked, and he hastily took advantage of the attack to convince Congress that the country was under attack and needed to respond. Notably, it was brave for the then Mexican President to send troops to the disputed region. In summary, the U.S wanted to bully Mexico but was surprised to find the country brave enough to fend off the attempts. President Polk wanted to fulfill selfish ambitions by annexing territories in Mexico by framing the country as the aggressor when, in the real sense, it was the invader ( Pinheiro, 2008).
My message is that Mexico was bullied by a country that, at the time, had superior weaponry, which explains why its victory should never be celebrated. The U.S had no reason to invade Mexico, as it was within the rights of the country to refuse the offer provided by the U.S concerning the purchase of Texas. The act of moving U.S troops to the disputed region was the original act of aggression, and the killing of Taylor’s sixteen soldiers was a response to the attack demonstrated by the U.S ( Pinheiro, 2008).
Importantly, the story of the Mexican-U.S war has given me many insights. I have learned the U.S participated in an illegal war that was sanctioned by the Congress on falsehoods presented by President James Polk. I also learned that Mexico wanted to use the War to consolidate its divided races and forge a collective past. Noteworthy, Mexican leaders wanted the conflict to be a uniting factor but that failed as the divisions amongst people in Mexico persisted. Similarly, President James Polk behaved in the manner he did for self and political preservation. In contrast, the Mexican leaders made the decisions they made to elevate the status of the country and unite the Mexicans through the War. Ultimately, selfish ambitions by leaders from both the Mexican and the U.S side prompted the occurrence of the War. Many Mexicans died during the War due to their ill-preparedness and their use of inferior weaponry.
Reference
Pinheiro, J. C. (2008). A Glorious Defeat: Mexico and Its War with the United States. By Timothy J. Henderson. (New York: Hill and Wang, 2007. xxii, 216 pp. $25.00, ISBN 978-0-8090-6120-4.).
