Lecture 10: The Mexican War
The Mexican War of 1847-48 is important to our study for
two reasons. First, it was the means by which the United
States acquired vast territory from Mexico. Second, it is one of the
most misrepresented of American wars, serving the mythic purposes of a
variety of people and points of view. Undeniably, it was a war of conquest,
but often its effects obscure its causes.
Outline of Lecture
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Introduction
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We begin with a broad concept, Manifest Destiny, the
idea that it was the destiny of the US to span the continent. We
examine two distinct, but related events, the Texas Revolution and the
Mexican War. And we look for direct causes and circumstances of the latter
conflict, including nationalism and political intrigue.
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The Texas Revolution
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Was there really such a thing? The argument here is that
the so-called Texas Revolution was part of a larger revolution having to do
with democracy and dictatorship in Mexico. We begin our story with
Anglo-American colonization of Texas and
carry it through to Texan victory at San Jacinto.
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Causes of the
Mexican War
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Manifest Destiny was a powerful sentiment in American life,
and President Polk was its vehicle. The direct causes of the war, however,
center on Texas.
The US annexed the Republic of Texas;
Mexico was determined to
re-conquer Texas;
there was going to be war.
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The War and
Its Consequences
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At the beginning, the smart bets were on Mexico.
The remarkable campaigns of Zachary Taylor, Stephen Watts Kearny, and
Winfield Scott, however, produced not only decisive victory but also vast
territorial acquisitions for the US. This conquest was codified
in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
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Assignments
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Tocqueville
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Chapter 15: “Future Prospects
of the United States.”
Tocqueville is a profound commentator on the nature of democratic societies;
he also is frequently a prophet. Yes, I know, he misses on some of his
calls, but prophecy is a high-risk profession, and as prophets go, he's got
a pretty good slugging percentage. This chapter is a great example.
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Why is it that the Anglo-Americans are to
possess all of North America?
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What will be the nature and characteristics
of the Anglo-American civilization?
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Comment on Tocqueville's
prophecies about Anglo-American expansion and Anglo-American dominance of
the continent in the light of—
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the northward
migration of Hispanic cultures.
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the North American
Free Trade Agreement.
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What do the futures of the United States and Russia have in common? How do
they differ? What is the cause or force behind their common destiny?
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WWW
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When the Mexican War began, the US was deeply divided, some
seeing the workings of Manifest Destiny, others the hidden hand of a slavocracy conspiracy. A neat collection of primary
documents reflecting sentiment of the time—specifically that of Congressman
Abraham Lincoln—is the National Archives suite of pages entitled "Lincoln's
Spot Resolutions."
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Film Review
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The Alamo
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The lecture talks
about the different views of what happened at the Alamo.
Generally these lapse into stereotypes. This film
treatment, however, leaves room for ambivalence.
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Book Review
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Merk, Manifest Destiny and Mission in American
History
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Brear, Inherit the Alamo
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Griswold del Castillo, The Treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo
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Lander, Reluctant Imperialists
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HIST 103 DCE Home Page
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