The Mexican-American War (1846-1848) became the first armed conflict in the United States that took place abroad. As for Mexico, the war was a major disaster.
In the war, America faced Mexico which was politically divided and militarily unprepared to face US expansionist policies. At that time US President James K. Polk, believed the United States had a real destiny to rule the entire continent in the Pacific Ocean.
Fighting at the border along the Rio Grande marked the start of fierce fighting between the two countries. By the time the war ended, Mexico had lost about a third of its territory, including almost all of California, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico today.
Background of the Mexican-American War
In 1836, Texas gained its independence from Mexico. Initially, the United States refused to include it in the union, mainly because of political interests that opposed the addition of a new slave state.
However, the United States changed its mind and began the procedure of annexation (forced land acquisition to be united with its own land) after the election of Polk in 1844. He campaigned that Texas had to be re-annexed and the Oregon region must be reoccupied.
In addition to the two regions, Polk is also eyeing California, New Mexico and the rest that are now known as the US Southwest.
Polk had tried to buy these areas, but his offer of 30 million US dollars was rejected by Mexico. As a result of this rejection, he began provoking warfare by moving US troops into the disputed zone between the Rio Grande and the Nueces River that was previously recognized by both countries as part of the state of Coahuila, Mexico.
Mexican-American War Begins
Mexico is known to be very protective of its territory and even had time to warn America not to try to annex. Therefore, when US troops began to move into the Rio Grande region, the Mexican military immediately responded.
On April 25, 1846, the Mexican cavalry attacked a group of US troops commanded by General Zachary Taylor in the disputed zone. The attack killed about a dozen US troops.
They then surrounded the American fortress along the Rio Grande. Faced with the siege, Taylor called in reinforcements. With the help of superior rifles and artillery, they were able to defeat Mexican troops in the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma.
After the battle, Polk told the US Congress that his patience had run out. He wants to defeat Mexico, before his neighbor begins to enter US territory. Two days later, on May 13, 1846, Congress formally declared war, despite opposition from some members of parliament, the war continued.
While on the other hand, no official declaration of war has ever come out of the Mexican Government.
United States Army Movement
At that time, only around 75,000 Mexicans lived north of the Rio Grande. As a result, US troops led by Colonel Stephen W. Kearny and Commodore Robert F. Stockton were able to conquer the land with minimal casualties. Taylor also experienced little difficulty when he took Monterrey in September.
In the midst of the fierce war, the former president and general of Mexico, Anonio Lopez de Santa Anna who was exiled in Cuba contacted Polk. Santa Anna assured Polk that if she were allowed to return to Mexico, she would end the war on favorable terms for the United States. Polk agreed with the idea, so he immediately sent a ship to bring Santa Anna from Cuba to Mexico.
When he arrived in Mexico, however, he became Polk’s new enemy by taking control of the Mexican army and leading him into battle. At the Battle of Buena Vista in February 1847, many Santa Anna troops were killed so he was forced to retreat.
Despite losing the battle, he actually took part in the Mexican presidential election the following month.
Meanwhile, US forces led by General Winfield Scott landed in Veracruz and took over the city. They then began marching towards Mexico City, which basically followed the same route that Hernán Cortés took when he attacked the Aztec empire.
The Mexicans fought back at Cerro Gordo and elsewhere, but were always defeated. In September 1847, Scott managed to surround Chapultepec Castle in the City of Mexico. During the siege, a group of military school cadets called niños héroes purportedly committed suicide rather than surrender.
End of the Mexico-United States War: Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Mexican guerrilla attacks on US forces continue, but the end of the war is visible. Santa Anna has resigned and the United States is waiting for a new government capable of negotiating. Thus the United States can be said to have won the war.
Finally, on February 2, 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed. This agreement concludes the Rio Grande (Formerly the Nueces River) as the new US-Mexico border. In addition, Mexico also acknowledged US annexation in Texas, and agreed to sell California and its remaining territory north of the Rio Grande for $ 15 million. Later the purchased territory became the states of California, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, Oklahoma and Kansas.
War for 26 months must be paid handsomely. Of the 79,000 American troops who participated, 13,200 died during the war. Most are victims of diseases such as dysentery, yellow fever, malaria and smallpox. On the other hand, Mexico also lost many troops, most historians estimate that as many as 25,000 soldiers and civilians were killed.
Ken 