1:20 - Chapter 1 - South of the (disputed) border 4:40 - Chapter 2 - A game of dominions 8:15 - Chapter 3 - War games 11:50 - Chapter 4 - Opening salvos 15:55 - Chapter 5 - Take me to monterrey 19:40 - Chapter 6 - The american cortés 22:20 - Chapter 7 - Aftershocks
So glad you got this quote in: "For myself, I was bitterly opposed to the measure [for war], and to this day regard the war, which resulted, as one of the most unjust ever waged by a stronger against a weaker nation." ~Ulysses S. Grant
USA has been the biggest villan I'm recent history, no other country has toppled so many democratic governments as the usians, mexico was just their first victim of American imperialism, and to this day they still carry a lot of the racist archetypes of mexicans to the American colective imagination.
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It is crazy! The same people that fought against Mexico and one of their goals was to legalize slavery was then fought against by their own people to abolish slavery. Incredible. The irony of the whole thing. Crazy how historical events led to what we know today! All of it seems relatable based on Human emotions. The Spanish American war was the war that led to the Mexican American war and it stated that Mexico executed many people only for Americans to also execute many people in retaliation which is total human emotion of revenge. The psychology of it all is so relatable because we are all human. Even today, we may debate commiting such atrocities in retaliation to atrocities commited against us.
The Irish are honored here in Mexico for their bravery and courage...I lived for many years in a town called San Patricio....every St Patrick's Day there is 2 weeks of celebration
I love history... I've been living in Mexico long time... and yes the Irish are honored here...they suffered like all brittish empire did and identify with Mexicans... Catholicism playing a part...i have a friend here in Mexico... he's a curator of a museum here... James Michener stayed at his home when writing his book "Mexico"....my friend is freckled and green eyed...sat me down and told stories how the Irish integrated...besides suffering horrible torture after chosing to switch sides... realizing the reality of the land grab plan of the US... other Irish slave/deck hands serving their brittish/ pirate masters...those who could swim...ended up on the shores and married...had kids...i just arrived to Melaque San Patricio...my old stomping grounds... cheers from Mexico
Remember the statistic: the US has NOT been at war for 16 years of its inglorious history. Another interesting statistic: at the last count the second-biggest spenders on Armamnets is China, 330 Billion. NUmber one is the USA, 3 plus trillion.
@@freeminded7 Oh, I peg your bardon: of course it isn't significant, after all, the USA is the Land of the Free!!!! ( Free to bomb the shit out of anyone its oligarchs likes. Of course being at war for every moment of your life except 16 is no sign of anything because, after all, ----I know, the US was constantly being ATTACKED. Wow, I'm afraid you are the INTELLECTUAL, not me, I am simply numerate and able to assess that 16 out of 268 is a piss. poor average. )
By giving West Point cadets a chance to use their book learning, the Mexican-American war gave those officers involved (Grant,yes, also Lee, whose performance on the road from Veracruz marked him as a rising star. ) experience. The early civil war was marked by battles lost by officers without this experience and battles won by officers who had already lived through the stresses of combat. Excellent show, how about a few more maps next time? Illustrate just what distances supply lines had to operate over.
Might just be I'm a Virginian like Lee, but, if not for him allying with his home state, he'd be considered(and is, by historians who understand him) one of the greatest Officers in US history. Three brevets and the rank of Colonel by the end of the Mexican-American war, when he had only been in the Engineers Corp until then and been out of West Point for...18 years? or 16?
@@tudyk21 that is a possibility, it could have also been from learning the tactics of the napoleonic wars too. Many times Napoleon was outnumbered and had to use unconventional tactics to win. Maybe a bit of both??
Hello! Thanks for the video. I'm a humanities professor, Mexican, and this is a great video. But personally, I would spend more time on the New Mexico and California campaigns. In both cases there were some Mexican victories, but they ended before the invasion of Veracruz and Central Mexico. By then the American objectives had already been achieved. Regards
@@bass779 Hello. There are not so many of them. Traditionally the biggest Mexican victory is considered the Battle of Buena Vista. Both armies retreated the battlefield, but the American advance in the north part of Mexico stopped. Personally I believe the greatest mexican are: First Battle of Tabasco (250 mexican soldiers stopped the american navy's attempt to capture cities along the Tabasco coast with 7 ships and 700 landing force), First Battle of Mora New Mexico (mexican militia and native american retarded american control of New Mexico), and Battle of Mulegé (ina baja california, after mexico city was taken and mexican government has surrendered, Mexican militia stopped an american Attack in Baja california). Regards.
You should do a video on the Batallón de San Patricio. The core was formed around US Army deserters, but they were more than that, and the reasons for their desertions shouldn't be swept under the rug. Plus their existence forced some changes in the US Army, including making sure soldiers were not denied the freedom to practice their particular religious beliefs. The US Army even denied their existence until a congressional investigation in 1915.
This was a great breakdown of the setup, specifics and consequences of this war. Great Job 👍. Recommendation for next video would be Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.
This war gained more territory but also had the effect of making the slavery issue more difficult for us to deal with and fast forwarding the arrival of the Civil War.
With the industrial revolution changing everything from manufacturing to farming, if the conflict could have been staved off for another 20 years -- or perhaps even 10 -- perhaps the issue would have become moot. Or perhaps not. We'll never know but it's an interesting question.
From what I’ve read, one side wanted to keep the “1 slave state, 1 free state” balance that the US had going on but the other side pointed out that all of those former Mexican states had abolished slavery years before the war and they thought changing them into slave states was unconstitutional since they already were non slave states, so the 1 for 1 balance was broken.
Hey Simon & Co, Awesome vid as usual. Are you guys considering doing a video on the Paraguayan War (1864-1870)? One of the most bloodiest war in Latin American history.
@@FlamingBasketballClub spoiler alert: Most of the male population dies, a province gets named after Rutherford B. Hayes, and a lot of intermixing over decades
The st Patrick's batallion was comprised of Irishmen who deserted and fought with Mexico, the Americans were incredibly racist towards them that's why they decided to fight and die for Mexico. Very brave men
@@archetypealch3my290 It is a pretty big element, so it odd to not mention it. It like like talking about the American Civil War and not bringing up slavery.
I'm American but honestly I feel bad for Mexico. They have so many extraordinary figures like Father Hidalgo and Madero/Villa/Zapata, all a match for many American heroes, but all elevated by tragedy, while many American founding fathers ended up dying in their beds surrounded by loved ones. Yet try as hard as they all did it seems like their history was a constant lurching of one disaster to another. They've honestly come out pretty alright though compared to a country like Venezuela
I don't think you should feel bad for a war over a 100 years ago. Yes as a Mexican I get a little sad seeing all those territories that the country "lost", but in reality Mexico never had controll over them, most of those lands belonged to native people, that Mexican elite treated them like shit. Still, we need to know these events, to better understand how we can avoid another conflict. We need to study atrocities to know how to prevent them.
venezuela and mexico have very different history. we are joined by the spanish empire. and we have a shared history and world viewe because of it. but thecourse of history is very different. my home town of veracruz has the official distinction of being hailed as 5 times heroic. becasue 5 times invasions have entered the country through it. twice by americans. it was also the place of the last stand of the last spaniards. even the empire had already left, and these ppl refued to acknowledge our independence
Winfield Scott was a southerner who stuck with the Union. His Anaconda Plan was brilliant, but only the smartest Union commanders believed in it, such as Grant. When Grant took Fort Donelson, Scott sent him a copy of his memoirs with a note, calling him the "greatest general". Once Grant was in charge of the army, he enacted Scott's plan to the letter.
12:41 My great great grandfather died in that battle. Major Samuel Ringgold. Aka "Father of modern artillery" Through his research at West Point it was one of his innovation to load lighter gun/cannons mounted on carriages and pulled by horses, called "Flying Artillery" it was a huge factor in winning the battle. An enemy cannonball however ripped through his legs & the horse beneath him & he died 3 days later.
@@donovanburkhardto add to it, this technique was developed and perfected by the Central Asians in the 14th century. From the Seljuk Turks to the Mughals, cannon mounted on horseback or camel often won them astonishing victories.
That is so fascinating. I read about the flying artillery concept in a book about the civil war. The US army really pioneered a lot of great military tactics
The US Marine Corps "Marine's Hymn" starts with "From the Halls of Montezuma" in recognition of the taking of the Castle of Chapultapec. Likewise the red "blood" stripes on the pants of the dress blue uniforms of NCO's and commissioned officers is in honor of the many marine NCO's and officers killed in the battle.
The Mexican battle flag taken from the ramparts of Chapultepec by US Marines hung in ceremony at HQMC from the 1840s til Harry S Truman ''returned'' the flag to a Mexican representative [possibly when Miguel Aleman-Valdes visited DC in 1947] .
@@brandonhallam51 No Sir. One might suppose it's in the possession of the Mexican State. Whether they retired it or put the flag on display at Chapultepec Castle or somewhere else in Ciudad de Mexico is anybody's guess.
I watch this and I say Mexico doesn’t have a Border problem if California and Texas are apart of Mexico. That entire southern border brings in so much money. California literally has the gdp of Russia you gotta pause and think about that it’s absolutely mind blowing🤯 And to think all of that land was literally taken mafia style.. Sign the deal take the money or else cannons and soldiers will be sent. Nobody talks that very real factor.
The ,,San Patricios'' make an interesting subject. The whole subject of Irish immigrants in the US Military is a curious one. In the 1840s Irish immigrants were mocked and villified by the ''Native'' faction who were mainly WASPs. Even so the Army had recruiters at the NY docks eager to sign Irish men into the service, long before the Civil War. The Irish Brigades [mostly on the Union side] sagas in that War are well documented. What many Americans [Especially Irish/Americans] don't know much about is the 1866 Fenian invasion of Lower Canada by some of these same Union veterans, who retained their arms [or re-armed themselves]. It has been suggested that the Federal Gov't turned a blind eye to the build-up because of unnofficial resentment at perceived Pro-Confederate leanings by Canada, Great Britain and the Commonwealth during the War.
As a New Yorker who grew up in NYC, you are right. There was a native born New Yorker named Bill the Butcher whose father was a veteran of the War of 1812. He fought in knife fights with Irish immigrants and Irish sailors and was the leader of the Nativists street gang Their wars with Irish and other ethnic groups lasted from 1846 til 1855 when he was killed in a knife fight in a bar by an Irishman who was a member of the British cavalry and was well trained in saber and knife fights . This was memorized by the movie Gangs of New York made by a famous movie director who was born also in NYC whose name I presently can't remember. The Mexican American War was also the first war to be photographed. Now I remember the name! Martin Scorsese!
We don't comprehend today how strong anti-Catholic feelings were for much of the nations history. Even with Irish and German immigrants making up the majority of the regular army, Catholics were denied promotions, punished more harshly than protestant soldiers, and often denied access to priests or religious services.
@@luislaplume8261 Yes, I saw Scorsese's 2002 ''Gangs of New York.'' Daniel Day-Lewis did a fearsome job playing Bill the Butcher. Ironically, Day-Lewis is an Irish citizen, Scorsese is a native New Yorker, Cameron Diaz [Jenny] is Cuban/German-American and DiCaprio is 2 quarters German. America, the Melting Pot.
Which is ironic, because despite being part of the Commonwealth, Canadian Courts had thrown out any laws or ordinances that would allow slavery by the beginning of the 18th century, and was ultimately the end destination for many routes of the Underground Railroad. Also when the Confederates reached out to us diplomatically, we told them to take a hike.
Great video on the Mexican American war!, love the objective approach to the narrative!. It’d be nice if you did a video on the Peruvian Chilean war of the pacific, or so we call it as such down here in Peru. A war fought by a country to honor a secret defense deal with another, yet that “other” country (Bolivia) up bailing from the fight, pretty much leaving Peru fight a better equipped Chile. Greetings from Peru
Yes! Finally, thank you Simon for covering this war, as well as mentioning the Niños Heroes and the St. Patrick's Battalion. Not many Americans knew about this war for years, unlike Mexico which remembers the Intervencion Estadounidense or gran zarpazo only too well.
Mexican American here definitely knew about this war and am so thankful America expanded freedom and empowerment to thousands of more miles and millions of more people
"For myself," Grant wrote later about the United States war against Mexico, "I was bitterly opposed to the measure, and to this day regard the war, which resulted, as one of the most unjust ever waged by a stronger against a weaker nation."
Grant is hilarious considering that the entire world thought that Mexico was far stronger than the US at that time, since the US had a standing army of 5,000 men.
@@stephenjenkins7971That Is a myth, the british and the french knew México would not be able to resist an American invasion and advised México to use independent Texas as a Buffer against American expansionism.
Please note that there is a US National Cemetery located in the center of Mexico City. It is "owned" by the US Department of State and administered by the American Battlefield Monuments Commission. It was given to the US as a place to inter the remains of about 750 US unknown soldiers from the Mexican War. Burials and interments of US citizens, primarily diplomatic and military personnel and families, until the early 1920's. This is a unique site and worth a visit.
My mom grew up on a ranch in what she terms "Old Mexico". Their ranch was just south of the Arkansas River and right across the road from Bent's Old Fort in SE Colorado. Strange and twisted history in that area, but the best cantaloupes on Earth.
I’m half Hispanic half Caucasian and live in this area. It is because of this war that I am alive today. War is obviously bad but the past is why we are all here.
It's interesting you say that. I'm Anglo-American. I always hear people (totally understandably) suggest that if they had a time machine, they would go back and kill Adolf Hitler before he rose to power. If that happened, however, I would not be alive today because my maternal grandparents met each other and got married while they were both stationed in Egypt as a consequence of World War II. No Hitler, no grandparents to give birth to my mom, and therefore no me. It's amazing how many things (and people) would not be if history was just a little different.
That’s what I try to tell people who love to live in the past and bash America. A Mexican said that he was ashamed of Mexico losing Texas, but I said to not be, because I’m from Texas and very proud to be American
Another great video by Simon and his team. Recommendation - the American Civil War naval battle between the Merrimack and the Monitor. The technology, the tactics, the location etc.
There is a residential section on the North Side of Pittsburgh,Pa called The Mexican War Streets. It was laid out at the time of the Mexican American War and streets were named after some of the battles. ,like Resaca Place.
Wow, that's inside history stuff, thanks. I'm in California, streets, town, cities, parks, are named after many from the war, but now being challenged and changed.
In broadest term.... Manifest Destiny called not only for US to stretch from 'sea to shining sea ' But to actually annex all of North America and the Caribbean Islands.
This is legitimately the first time I've heard about this was as more than a footnote. The most I've heard before was the last bit about it causing unrest between the pro and anti slavery factions. But it clearly has so much more to offer in terms of importance. The United States has an ugly habit of hiding any past it doesn't like, and this is quite clearly an example of this as it brings up a perhaps painful idea, the US is a colonial empire. But it is exactly because it is a painful idea that it Should be brought up. We can't hide from the past, but we can learn from it.
Two colonial nations went to war one set up by Spain the other by England… and thank god it expanded freedom and happiness to by todays times 10s of millions.
@@kevinyoung947 Whether or not the US has done more good or bad for the world is another discussion. What I'm talking about is that this war was an agressive occupation of a weaker nation. This was not about freedom, or happiness, this was about territorial expansion which directly goes against so many modern US ideals. Which is why it should not be hidden and forgotten, but should be taught and remembered.
@@Neptune0404 it should be taught and remembered especially when it’s end result was so good and the controversy so little both nations are colonial powers on stolen land and Mexico wasn’t considered a weak nation compared to America at that time.
I'm born in the 70s n never learned this at all. It's washed from imperial quarters completely. They don't teach it or it's relevancy at all. Makes u slapped. U slap urself and another. Craven polticlal psychopaths are american politics always have been. The foot notes don't tell the long game. Actions r facts. Words r progangna. The moral high ground preached Into the echo chamber is listened to by no one and not surprised at all. The master tells the good guy sht but damn. When was it washed rinsed off n out the cariculem never to be there n the alt histoy began being reapeted rejected erased would be cool to know what they told people when they told people. No doubt the most craven thing will be the words the on pop quizes describing the event in history class school kids memorization is taught not critical thought regarding history class. Any class
Honestly I think that the worst part for the Mexicans wasn’t losing all that land to the United States as a result of the war. The worst part was having to sit by and watch as the US found gold in California a few years later. That had to sting.
Mexico for a long time after that has too many problems to deal with unfortunately. I don't think they cared. The good news is that they found a massive lithium deposit in the Sonora Desert
The fact that the Mexican American war made dramatic changes to North America as a whole is amazing. Yet it is ignored by educators in North America. What are their motives?
Its simple why the war is overlooked in American history books. 1. The Texas revolution started because American immigrants in Mexican Texas were angry that Mexico outlawed slavery. 2. President Polk had to lie to congress in order to gain support for a war many Americans did not want. 3. American politicians questioned the morality of the war and saw it as an excuse to expand slavery. 4. Mexico never declared war on the U.S. nor did they ever invade U.S. territory. Most of the fighting was done by American troops invading Mexican territories. 5. The U.S. didn't hold their end of the bargain when it came to the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Mexicans in California and Texas were murdered and had their property stolen by white Americans despite being promised they would be protected as American citizens. 6. The only reason why the U.S. stopped at California and didn't annex all of Mexico wad because they didn't want a bunch of "mixed race half Indians people joining their white society".
It's skimmed over in Mexico too. I'm married to a Mexican woman so I ask her and her family what do they know about the Mexican American War. All they say is that the US stole half of Mexico. They don't go into anything else
@@michaelsinger4638 I agree, however the number of MoH winners, and future Commandants alone makes the period around Belleau wood potentially a fun one too follow. Not to discount the others, but the sheer number of Marines who became leaders in WW2 and beyond that fought at Bellevue wood, Hill 142, and the surrounding area is monumental in the history of thr Corps and its modern incarnation.
I'd also thrown in the battle of Chapultepec, where the Corps earned its Blood Stripe, for no ither reason to shine some light on the reasons behind parts of our uniform.
America has screwed up so many nations in latin america, but this was a really low blow, man. Not only Lincoln opposed, Thoreau did too, and spent time in jail for it. But the better angels didn't prevailed.
Latin America screwed itself up by stupidly embracing the disastrous failures of Marxism. Mexico is to this day the epitome of government corruption, decay, and dysfunction.
Scott was quintessential military mastermind we speak of. Grant thanked him in his memoirs for the strategies he used against Mexico that later he himself used to crush the south in the Civil War. Scott was a Virginian, he stayed loyal to his country.
Great video. so important to shed some light on this seemingly near forgotten chapter in history. As an American, I do believe it was so brushed over in history classes because you can’t hide the imperialistic motive. The revolution or the war to end slavery is so much more gratifying to discuss.
Great video guys, I have a suggestion for videos, do a four-part series of the Anglo-Dutch Wars. Obviously not all at the same time but I think that would be cool
Request for a video on the New Orleans Greys. William G Cooke (husband's ancestor) was the only senior officer to survive the war. Super interesting topic!
As a native Utahn I already knew much about this war, including the story of the Mormon Battalion. Mormon pioneers settled Salt Lake valley in July 1847, in the middle of the war
Excellent video, as always. It's interesting to read Ulysses S. Grant's recount of his experiences in the Mexican-American War in his autobiography. As Simon indicated, he thought it an unjust and immoral war.
While yes that's horrible, 1/10 odds of dying while captured has to be one of the better odds of survival historically... especially when talking about events that would be viewed as war crimes today. Again, not making light, just when I heard that I though of POWS caught by USSR or Nazi Germany and thought to myself "I'd draw a bean"
Zachary Taylor was a truly interesting man. I hope you do a Biographics video on him someday. Also, recommendations: Teutoburg ✔ Winter War ✔ Paraguayan War ✔ War of Spanish Succession Naseby
Do you think you could do an episode on the Battle of Antietam/Sharpsburg? It is the single bloodiest day in American history with over 22,000 casualties. For comparison there were a bit over 10,000 combined Allied casualties at the Normandy landings. My family has multiple people that fought and died there with The Texas Brigade under Hood at Millers cornfield. It was some truly gruesome fighting with the Texas Brigade suffering over 60% casualties. When asked where his division was Hood simply replied dead on the field. Love the work you do Simon!
As I understand it, the Alta California spelled it, "Monterey." The other one on the east coast of Mexico was spelled with two TT. Thanks for the video.
This is what happened in parts of Mexico and which even some Mexicans today have no idea of - The war started in April 1846 and officially ended February 1848. According to a Mexican source, around the start of the war, the Mexican federal government sent a large well equipped military force headed by coronel Rafael Tellez to defend California which really was mostly undefended. When he got to the port city of Mazatlan in the Mexican state of Sinaloa, he rebelled against the acting Mexican Pres. Arrillaga and with support from foreign business owners in Mazatlan , he took over the Southern part of Sinaloa. He created kind of a fiefdom. Around September 1846, some US naval ships sailed off the coast of the port city of Mazatlan. In February 1847, the US sent the US Pacific squadron to blockaded the city. Problem with blockading the city was that it angered UK. business owners in the port city who complained to the UK. which sent UK. naval ships to protect the commercial rights of its citizen. Not wanting problems with the UK., the US lifted the blockade but then decided to takeover the port city. So on October 11, 1847 they contacted coronel Rafael Tellez. He pulled his troops out of the port city (now you partially know why Stalin use to eliminate his military officers) and so the US forces landed. The US forces reached an agreement with the mayor Jose Maria Vasavilbazo. So the city was not put under martial law. US forces stayed for eight months. Should mention that on November 20, 1847 that US forces tried to break out of the port city via a section of the town called Urias. However, the Mexican captain of the Port by the name of Carlos Horn with a small detachment of troops stopped the advance. US troops then retreated back. After that incident nothing again ever happened. According to the following US source, this is what happened - books.google.com.pr/books?id=_1DqVTdwmVkC&pg=PA347&lpg=PA347&dq=Rafael+Tellez+1846&source=bl&ots=aYUIHih66o&sig=ACfU3U19dfNZ01ZA1T9704QxPr7IYeMkFQ&hl=es&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwirv56Czar1AhWaSjABHc3BDZ4Q6AF6BAgmEAM#v=onepage&q=Rafael%20Tellez%201846&f=false Going back, another force of Mexican troops had been sent from Acapulco to California but it was retained by General Juan Alvarez so it never left the Acapulco area. He was always worried about where the money to fight the war would come from. He once commented that Mexico used loan sharks to finance things. This on him - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Álvarez In the meantime, US troops during the war entered Durango state. They were just passing through Durango which is a large state. The Durango militia followed them from a distance without engaging them. After leaving Durango, the Governor of Durango called for a celebration. Meanwhile, with the war going on the Mexican State of Zacatecas had decided to annex the small Mexican state of Aguas Caliente. With all the change of Pres. going on, it was decided by one of the new acting Pres. that the constitution of 1824 would be put back in place. So the Governor of Zacatecas went back to the 1824 situation when Aguascaliente was part of Zacatecas. Initially, there was resistance but in order not to create a bigger problem Aguascaliente let itself be annexed while trying to legally continue to fight this at the Fed. level. A decade later they again became a state. In 1846 just before the war, Yucatan once again declared independence. There were also some native revolts in parts of Southern Mexico. Also the Polkos rebellion. Read this on that - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolt_of_the_Polkos During the war many of Mexicos acting Pres. resigned. or were forced out which did not help the situation. Recommend you read the following starting from former Mexican Pres. Valentín Canalizo to Manuel de la Peña y Peña. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_heads_of_state_of_Mexico Seems if Valentín Canalizo had been in charge the US might not have been able to take Veracruz or possibly Mexico city. The main commander was Anna. And Canalizo at one point dropped from fighting since he felt Anna strategy was flawed.
Vaquero is the Mexican term for cowboy not for irregular combatants. Not to say ranchers and cowboys didn’t act as militia but that just ain’t what the word means.
My sons new step grandfather (ugg) believes that it was right to fight the Mexican American war, you could see steam coming out of his ears when my boys told him, we went a picked a fight, so we could have our sea to shinning sea.
The fight between Mexico and America for dominance over the continent was preordained from the moment the British founded their colony in Jamestown in response to the Spanish colonizing Central America. People can whinge and moan about it, but it all comes down to human nature; we don't share well.
Mexico never included Louisiana, The Louisiana purchase took place in 1803, Mexican independence in 1820. New Spain might have once included Louisiana but never Mexico.
Yea but most of east Ukraine including Crimea are more populated by Russians kinda how US Southerners were Filibusting Texas from Mexico so it can eventually be annexed by the U.S
Enjoy your program. I hope you will do one on the Texas Revolution of 1835-36 and Republic if Texas soon. You did a good job of describing briefly the rolls these played in the run-up to the Mexica-American War.
Actually, Mexico tried to negotiate to have Britain take over California. However, having finally settled the Oregon problem, Britain demurred. The US government was desperate for a treaty because there was a growing movement in the US to annex ALL of Mexico, which, being below the line of the Missouri Compromise, would have meant all of the states could have entered as slave states. And BTW, it's pronounced sly-DELL.
Yes, the Trist mission was not fully explored in this video. Someone should write an alternate history with the US annexing all of Mexico and turning into a slave territory. The South may have then won the Civil War.
@@nuqwestr alternate history where the US annexes mexico: stuff is a little difficult for a few years but then everything calms down. no cartels chopping off the heads of children and world peace is achieved sooner bc america is bigger. the end.
The map of "young Mexico" at 02:00 is not accurate. It purports that at Mexican independence from Spain in 1821 that it owned land which the United States had purchased from France in the 'Louisiana Purchase' in 1803 (basically what its now the American Midwest down to the modern state of Louisiana) and land ceded from Spain to the US in the 1821 Adams-Onis Treaty (Florida and St. Augustine).
Could you do a history of the battles of the collapse of Yugoslavia? There isn’t much on the battles between the states as they separated and it’s important history.
Amazing research and work as always from Simon 👓👌 perfectly executed. I would like to mention an American war where its not well known but also interesting because of the early days of U.S imperialism in the Indo-Pacific region where a newly born republic in the orient was bought, tricked, annexed by the U.S from the dying empire of Spain: The Philippine-American war of 1899-1902.
Don't be ridiculous. By the time of the Treaty of Oregon in 1846 (when the British ceded the Northwest to the US) there was no chance of "the Limeys marching down to burn DC for a second time" (5:36). And it wasn't just _some people_ advocating war with Britain over the Northwest. "Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!", a reference to where he wanted the new border established, was a well-known campaign slogan of President Polk's in the 1844 election. After negotiations, in order to avoid war, Britain and the US settled on the 49th Parallel.
And then Americans started to declare war left and right with Latin American counries, countless invasions. From wikipedia "1898 to 1935: The United States launched multiple minor interventions into Latin America, resulting in U.S. military presence in Cuba, Honduras, Panama (via the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty and Isthmian Canal Commission),[11] Haiti (1915-1935),[12] the Dominican Republic (1916-1924) and Nicaragua (1912-1925) & (1926-1933).[13] The U.S. Marine Corps began to specialize in long-term military occupation of these countries, primarily to safeguard customs revenues which were the cause of local civil wars.[14]"
Hahaha that’s a really funny take on the video bro have you thought about a career in analysis?? Or maybe comedy? I think you’d really strike gold as your talent is clearly wasted on a RUclips comment section!
1:20 - Chapter 1 - South of the (disputed) border
4:40 - Chapter 2 - A game of dominions
8:15 - Chapter 3 - War games
11:50 - Chapter 4 - Opening salvos
15:55 - Chapter 5 - Take me to monterrey
19:40 - Chapter 6 - The american cortés
22:20 - Chapter 7 - Aftershocks
thank you
Gracias Soldado
So glad you got this quote in:
"For myself, I was bitterly opposed to the measure [for war], and to this day regard the war, which resulted, as one of the most unjust ever waged by a stronger against a weaker nation."
~Ulysses S. Grant
USA has been the biggest villan I'm recent history, no other country has toppled so many democratic governments as the usians, mexico was just their first victim of American imperialism, and to this day they still carry a lot of the racist archetypes of mexicans to the American colective imagination.
yea ok grant
Anyone who studied a bit of history would know how full of garbage he was.
@@AR15andGODoffended by facts? Truth hurts sack up
You could also apply the quote from Secretary of State John Hay during the Spanish-American conflict. "A splendid little war."
As a professional historian, I always refer to the Mexican American War as the "Cameo War". As in so many Civil War generals first appear in this war.
😄👏🏿
But you'll never be like coked up simon
True
That is so very insightful oh, Sir, mister historian.
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That's pretty insane how one war fought paved the way for civil wars on both sides afterward.
It is crazy! The same people that fought against Mexico and one of their goals was to legalize slavery was then fought against by their own people to abolish slavery. Incredible. The irony of the whole thing. Crazy how historical events led to what we know today! All of it seems relatable based on Human emotions. The Spanish American war was the war that led to the Mexican American war and it stated that Mexico executed many people only for Americans to also execute many people in retaliation which is total human emotion of revenge. The psychology of it all is so relatable because we are all human. Even today, we may debate commiting such atrocities in retaliation to atrocities commited against us.
Right I'm little bit shock and surprised how much I learned about this video
Actually super happy you mentioned St. Patrick's battalion. Fairly unknown and a pretty important part of history.
Surprisingly enough, St. Patrick’s battalion is very much remembered in Mexico, it is even celebrated and commemorated on September 12 of every year.
"Unknown"? There's even a Hollywood movie about it. "One Man's Hero" starring Tom Berringer.
in mexico, he still pay homage to them. granted. not in the grand way they deserve. pretty low key, actually
The Irish are honored here in Mexico for their bravery and courage...I lived for many years in a town called San Patricio....every St Patrick's Day there is 2 weeks of celebration
I love history... I've been living in Mexico long time... and yes the Irish are honored here...they suffered like all brittish empire did and identify with Mexicans... Catholicism playing a part...i have a friend here in Mexico... he's a curator of a museum here... James Michener stayed at his home when writing his book "Mexico"....my friend is freckled and green eyed...sat me down and told stories how the Irish integrated...besides suffering horrible torture after chosing to switch sides... realizing the reality of the land grab plan of the US... other Irish slave/deck hands serving their brittish/ pirate masters...those who could swim...ended up on the shores and married...had kids...i just arrived to Melaque San Patricio...my old stomping grounds... cheers from Mexico
"Strictly speaking, it wasn't true, but strictly speaking Congress didn't give a f*ck."
US Congress in a nutshell.
We'll believe anything if it means we can expand our imperial reach.
-Murican
Remember the statistic: the US has NOT been at war for 16 years of its inglorious history. Another interesting statistic: at the last count the second-biggest spenders on Armamnets is China, 330 Billion. NUmber one is the USA, 3 plus trillion.
LMAO, my favourite part of the video.
@@dieterbarkhoff1328 imagine thinking that stat means anything without context. Another youtube pseudo intellectual.
@@freeminded7 Oh, I peg your bardon: of course it isn't significant, after all, the USA is the Land of the Free!!!! ( Free to bomb the shit out of anyone its oligarchs likes. Of course being at war for every moment of your life except 16 is no sign of anything because, after all, ----I know, the US was constantly being ATTACKED. Wow, I'm afraid you are the INTELLECTUAL, not me, I am simply numerate and able to assess that 16 out of 268 is a piss. poor average. )
Back when a president had to ask congress to start a war. Good times
The president still has 2
We technically haven declared war since WWII. Everything since then had been a "police action"
@@majobyet, we’re fighting a proxy war against nuclear armed Russia😂
It’s easier to just call them conflicts now.
The president still has to be approved by congress to declare war. Similar to the Queen of England needs parliament declare war. You are wrong.
By giving West Point cadets a chance to use their book learning, the Mexican-American war gave those officers involved (Grant,yes, also Lee, whose performance on the road from Veracruz marked him as a rising star. ) experience. The early civil war was marked by battles lost by officers without this experience and battles won by officers who had already lived through the stresses of combat. Excellent show, how about a few more maps next time? Illustrate just what distances supply lines had to operate over.
Very well said. Just from experience, lots of people don't understand how big the US and Mexico really are.
Yes, I concur on using more maps.
Might just be I'm a Virginian like Lee, but, if not for him allying with his home state, he'd be considered(and is, by historians who understand him) one of the greatest Officers in US history. Three brevets and the rank of Colonel by the end of the Mexican-American war, when he had only been in the Engineers Corp until then and been out of West Point for...18 years? or 16?
Perhaps Lee learned victory against long odd fron Scott in that campaign.
@@tudyk21 that is a possibility, it could have also been from learning the tactics of the napoleonic wars too. Many times Napoleon was outnumbered and had to use unconventional tactics to win. Maybe a bit of both??
Hello! Thanks for the video. I'm a humanities professor, Mexican, and this is a great video.
But personally, I would spend more time on the New Mexico and California campaigns.
In both cases there were some Mexican victories, but they ended before the invasion of Veracruz and Central Mexico. By then the American objectives had already been achieved.
Regards
What was the greatest Mexican victory?
@@bass779 Hello.
There are not so many of them. Traditionally the biggest Mexican victory is considered the Battle of Buena Vista. Both armies retreated the battlefield, but the American advance in the north part of Mexico stopped.
Personally I believe the greatest mexican are: First Battle of Tabasco (250 mexican soldiers stopped the american navy's attempt to capture cities along the Tabasco coast with 7 ships and 700 landing force), First Battle of Mora New Mexico (mexican militia and native american retarded american control of New Mexico), and Battle of Mulegé (ina baja california, after mexico city was taken and mexican government has surrendered, Mexican militia stopped an american Attack in Baja california).
Regards.
@@fernandovillelaaranda5403 Baja California.....in Mexico. Not to be confused with California, the US state.
You should do a video on the Batallón de San Patricio. The core was formed around US Army deserters, but they were more than that, and the reasons for their desertions shouldn't be swept under the rug. Plus their existence forced some changes in the US Army, including making sure soldiers were not denied the freedom to practice their particular religious beliefs. The US Army even denied their existence until a congressional investigation in 1915.
Now Mexicans R illegals in their own Land 😢😮😢
+1 on this
This was a great breakdown of the setup, specifics and consequences of this war. Great Job 👍. Recommendation for next video would be Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.
This war gained more territory but also had the effect of making the slavery issue more difficult for us to deal with and fast forwarding the arrival of the Civil War.
With the industrial revolution changing everything from manufacturing to farming, if the conflict could have been staved off for another 20 years -- or perhaps even 10 -- perhaps the issue would have become moot. Or perhaps not. We'll never know but it's an interesting question.
From what I’ve read, one side wanted to keep the “1 slave state, 1 free state” balance that the US had going on but the other side pointed out that all of those former Mexican states had abolished slavery years before the war and they thought changing them into slave states was unconstitutional since they already were non slave states, so the 1 for 1 balance was broken.
@@ericktellez7632 I hadn't heard that but it sounds plausible.
Yes the southern slave owners were pushing for an invasion of Mexico while northerners were against it
Hey Simon & Co, Awesome vid as usual. Are you guys considering doing a video on the Paraguayan War (1864-1870)? One of the most bloodiest war in Latin American history.
Sincerely hope so! An isolated 🇵🇾 against 🇦🇷 🇧🇷 🇺🇾 is such a tale.
Never heard of the Paraguayan War. Tell me more.
@@FlamingBasketballClub spoiler alert:
Most of the male population dies, a province gets named after Rutherford B. Hayes, and a lot of intermixing over decades
To be honest, I found the Jan and Dean song about the war a bit distasteful.
The st Patrick's batallion was comprised of Irishmen who deserted and fought with Mexico, the Americans were incredibly racist towards them that's why they decided to fight and die for Mexico. Very brave men
The correct term would be xenophobia
Unyet after gettysburg the Irish brigade were heroes, North and South Irish fought each other at Fredericksburg.......just saying 🙄
It wierd how you ignored how Catholicism fit into the event.
@@badluck5647 how is it weird ? O_o
@@archetypealch3my290 It is a pretty big element, so it odd to not mention it. It like like talking about the American Civil War and not bringing up slavery.
Simon is on fire! Into the Shadows, Decoding the Unknown and now Warographics, the new channels are a treat!
I spend 10 hours a day 5 days a week listening to biographies, war history, and history in general. I'm glad I found you.
I'm American but honestly I feel bad for Mexico. They have so many extraordinary figures like Father Hidalgo and Madero/Villa/Zapata, all a match for many American heroes, but all elevated by tragedy, while many American founding fathers ended up dying in their beds surrounded by loved ones. Yet try as hard as they all did it seems like their history was a constant lurching of one disaster to another. They've honestly come out pretty alright though compared to a country like Venezuela
I don't think you should feel bad for a war over a 100 years ago. Yes as a Mexican I get a little sad seeing all those territories that the country "lost", but in reality Mexico never had controll over them, most of those lands belonged to native people, that Mexican elite treated them like shit. Still, we need to know these events, to better understand how we can avoid another conflict. We need to study atrocities to know how to prevent them.
venezuela and mexico have very different history. we are joined by the spanish empire. and we have a shared history and world viewe because of it. but thecourse of history is very different. my home town of veracruz has the official distinction of being hailed as 5 times heroic. becasue 5 times invasions have entered the country through it. twice by americans. it was also the place of the last stand of the last spaniards. even the empire had already left, and these ppl refued to acknowledge our independence
Mexico has a long and standing tradition of killing heroes. Outside looking in, it's impressive how chaotic yet functional the country is.
Basically a fight for no absolute reason and unnecessary SMH, but it happened and over with results for the future.
What's your last name?
Winfield Scott was a southerner who stuck with the Union. His Anaconda Plan was brilliant, but only the smartest Union commanders believed in it, such as Grant. When Grant took Fort Donelson, Scott sent him a copy of his memoirs with a note, calling him the "greatest general". Once Grant was in charge of the army, he enacted Scott's plan to the letter.
12:41 My great great grandfather died in that battle. Major Samuel Ringgold. Aka "Father of modern artillery" Through his research at West Point it was one of his innovation to load lighter gun/cannons mounted on carriages and pulled by horses, called "Flying Artillery" it was a huge factor in winning the battle. An enemy cannonball however ripped through his legs & the horse beneath him & he died 3 days later.
What a way to go 😭
Those who live by the sword, die by the sword.
Napoleon had done so 50 years prior and the Swedes another 50 years before that.
@@donovanburkhardto add to it, this technique was developed and perfected by the Central Asians in the 14th century. From the Seljuk Turks to the Mughals, cannon mounted on horseback or camel often won them astonishing victories.
That is so fascinating. I read about the flying artillery concept in a book about the civil war.
The US army really pioneered a lot of great military tactics
The US Marine Corps "Marine's Hymn" starts with "From the Halls of Montezuma" in recognition of the taking of the Castle of Chapultapec. Likewise the red "blood" stripes on the pants of the dress blue uniforms of NCO's and commissioned officers is in honor of the many marine NCO's and officers killed in the battle.
The Mexican battle flag taken from the ramparts of Chapultepec by US Marines hung in ceremony at HQMC from the 1840s til Harry S Truman ''returned'' the flag to a Mexican representative [possibly when Miguel Aleman-Valdes visited DC in 1947] .
Lol. Marines. Brainwashed retards. Hoowah!
@@HootOwl513 any idea where it can be found and seen now?
@@brandonhallam51 No Sir. One might suppose it's in the possession of the Mexican State. Whether they retired it or put the flag on display at Chapultepec Castle or somewhere else in Ciudad de Mexico is anybody's guess.
I watch this and I say Mexico doesn’t have a Border problem if California and Texas are apart of Mexico. That entire southern border brings in so much money. California literally has the gdp of Russia you gotta pause and think about that it’s absolutely mind blowing🤯
And to think all of that land was literally taken mafia style..
Sign the deal take the money or else cannons and soldiers will be sent. Nobody talks that very real factor.
The ,,San Patricios'' make an interesting subject. The whole subject of Irish immigrants in the US Military is a curious one. In the 1840s Irish immigrants were mocked and villified by the ''Native'' faction who were mainly WASPs. Even so the Army had recruiters at the NY docks eager to sign Irish men into the service, long before the Civil War. The Irish Brigades [mostly on the Union side] sagas in that War are well documented. What many Americans [Especially Irish/Americans] don't know much about is the 1866 Fenian invasion of Lower Canada by some of these same Union veterans, who retained their arms [or re-armed themselves]. It has been suggested that the Federal Gov't turned a blind eye to the build-up because of unnofficial resentment at perceived Pro-Confederate leanings by Canada, Great Britain and the Commonwealth during the War.
As a New Yorker who grew up in NYC, you are right. There was a native born New Yorker named Bill the Butcher whose father was a veteran of the War of 1812. He fought in knife fights with Irish immigrants and Irish sailors and was the leader of the Nativists street gang Their wars with Irish and other ethnic groups lasted from 1846 til 1855 when he was killed in a knife fight in a bar by an Irishman who was a member of the British cavalry and was well trained in saber and knife fights . This was memorized by the movie Gangs of New York made by a famous movie director who was born also in NYC whose name I presently can't remember. The Mexican American War was also the first war to be photographed. Now I remember the name! Martin Scorsese!
We don't comprehend today how strong anti-Catholic feelings were for much of the nations history. Even with Irish and German immigrants making up the majority of the regular army, Catholics were denied promotions, punished more harshly than protestant soldiers, and often denied access to priests or religious services.
@@mickaleneduczech8373 The 1999 Tom Berenger film, "One Man's Hero'' illustrates this pretty well. Great flick.
@@luislaplume8261 Yes, I saw Scorsese's 2002 ''Gangs of New York.'' Daniel Day-Lewis did a fearsome job playing Bill the Butcher. Ironically, Day-Lewis is an Irish citizen, Scorsese is a native New Yorker, Cameron Diaz [Jenny] is Cuban/German-American and DiCaprio is 2 quarters German.
America, the Melting Pot.
Which is ironic, because despite being part of the Commonwealth, Canadian Courts had thrown out any laws or ordinances that would allow slavery by the beginning of the 18th century, and was ultimately the end destination for many routes of the Underground Railroad. Also when the Confederates reached out to us diplomatically, we told them to take a hike.
Great video on the Mexican American war!, love the objective approach to the narrative!. It’d be nice if you did a video on the Peruvian Chilean war of the pacific, or so we call it as such down here in Peru. A war fought by a country to honor a secret defense deal with another, yet that “other” country (Bolivia) up bailing from the fight, pretty much leaving Peru fight a better equipped Chile. Greetings from Peru
"Manifested Destiny" is a nice way to call invasion and colonization
If you are American, you benefit from all the colonization and invasions. Same if you are british.
Yes! Finally, thank you Simon for covering this war, as well as mentioning the Niños Heroes and the St. Patrick's Battalion. Not many Americans knew about this war for years, unlike Mexico which remembers the Intervencion Estadounidense or gran zarpazo only too well.
Mexican American here definitely knew about this war and am so thankful America expanded freedom and empowerment to thousands of more miles and millions of more people
@Kevin Young The war wasn't about expanding freedom and empowerment, it was about expanding the U.S. borders.
@@royroland3884 no but two colonial powers fought and that was the end result.
@@kevinyoung947 America? You mean United States? Also I doubt the United States expanded freedom and empowerment since slavery was still a thing.
@@kevinyoung947 "Freedom"
Yeah let's just forget how America still had slavery
"For myself," Grant wrote later about the United States war against Mexico, "I was bitterly opposed to the measure, and to this day regard the war, which resulted, as one of the most unjust ever waged by a stronger against a weaker nation."
Grant is hilarious considering that the entire world thought that Mexico was far stronger than the US at that time, since the US had a standing army of 5,000 men.
@@stephenjenkins7971That Is a myth, the british and the french knew México would not be able to resist an American invasion and advised México to use independent Texas as a Buffer against American expansionism.
I'm glad you told the truth, cause most Americans don't know why this war was unjust
It wasn't unjust, it was unfathomably based. Every major country in the world has fought wars to expand, we are absolutely allowed to do the same.
@@kidfox3971Based? Based on what?
@@hansolo9585 It was the right thing to do. Mexico tried taking back land that belonged to Texas and they got put in their place.
Name a war that was just then.
@@hansolo9585 Based on your mother
Please note that there is a US National Cemetery located in the center of Mexico City. It is "owned" by the US Department of State and administered by the American Battlefield Monuments Commission. It was given to the US as a place to inter the remains of about 750 US unknown soldiers from the Mexican War. Burials and interments of US citizens, primarily diplomatic and military personnel and families, until the early 1920's. This is a unique site and worth a visit.
Ima go pee on it
My mom grew up on a ranch in what she terms "Old Mexico". Their ranch was just south of the Arkansas River and right across the road from Bent's Old Fort in SE Colorado. Strange and twisted history in that area, but the best cantaloupes on Earth.
I know you've made videos on key figures of it, but I wonder if you'd just do a full video on the Mexican Revolution here?
I've always liked the term "Cameo War." With the exception of Sherman, basically every future famous Civil War general cut their teeth in Mexico.
One thing you could improve in this video is the use of maps for invasion routes and battle details
It would be good. Mind you, as a fellow content creator, I know that would not be cheap. $$$
San Patricios battalion with the Gaeilge Slogan Erin go Bragh 🇮🇪
Viva the San Patricios! 🇨🇮🇲🇽🇨🇮🇲🇽
@@JamesDaffyBenderDonald Old Friends and Allies 🇮🇪🇲🇽
I’m half Hispanic half Caucasian and live in this area. It is because of this war that I am alive today. War is obviously bad but the past is why we are all here.
It's interesting you say that. I'm Anglo-American. I always hear people (totally understandably) suggest that if they had a time machine, they would go back and kill Adolf Hitler before he rose to power. If that happened, however, I would not be alive today because my maternal grandparents met each other and got married while they were both stationed in Egypt as a consequence of World War II. No Hitler, no grandparents to give birth to my mom, and therefore no me. It's amazing how many things (and people) would not be if history was just a little different.
@@skyhawk_4526 good thinking
That’s what I try to tell people who love to live in the past and bash America. A Mexican said that he was ashamed of Mexico losing Texas, but I said to not be, because I’m from Texas and very proud to be American
I'm in brooklyn 40 years never new none that. That was among greatest content iv seen. Ty for taking the time.
Crown heights?
"White settlers vs Mexicans" yeah that's not quite how that went.
Another great video by Simon and his team. Recommendation - the American Civil War naval battle between the Merrimack and the Monitor. The technology, the tactics, the location etc.
There is a residential section on the North Side of Pittsburgh,Pa called The Mexican War Streets. It was laid out at the time of the Mexican American War and streets were named after some of the battles. ,like Resaca Place.
Wow, that's inside history stuff, thanks. I'm in California, streets, town, cities, parks, are named after many from the war, but now being challenged and changed.
@@nuqwestr why are they challenged?
By far, this is the most entertaining way to learn history. Thank you!!
very interesting, it's nice to finally have a clear summary of this war
this is extremely a extremely stupid comment. a "clear" summary hahaha
In broadest term.... Manifest Destiny called not only for US to stretch from 'sea to shining sea '
But to actually annex all of North America and the Caribbean Islands.
This is legitimately the first time I've heard about this was as more than a footnote. The most I've heard before was the last bit about it causing unrest between the pro and anti slavery factions. But it clearly has so much more to offer in terms of importance. The United States has an ugly habit of hiding any past it doesn't like, and this is quite clearly an example of this as it brings up a perhaps painful idea, the US is a colonial empire. But it is exactly because it is a painful idea that it Should be brought up. We can't hide from the past, but we can learn from it.
Two colonial nations went to war one set up by Spain the other by England… and thank god it expanded freedom and happiness to by todays times 10s of millions.
@@kevinyoung947 Whether or not the US has done more good or bad for the world is another discussion. What I'm talking about is that this war was an agressive occupation of a weaker nation. This was not about freedom, or happiness, this was about territorial expansion which directly goes against so many modern US ideals. Which is why it should not be hidden and forgotten, but should be taught and remembered.
@@Neptune0404 it should be taught and remembered especially when it’s end result was so good and the controversy so little both nations are colonial powers on stolen land and Mexico wasn’t considered a weak nation compared to America at that time.
I'm born in the 70s n never learned this at all. It's washed from imperial quarters completely. They don't teach it or it's relevancy at all. Makes u slapped. U slap urself and another. Craven polticlal psychopaths are american politics always have been. The foot notes don't tell the long game. Actions r facts. Words r progangna. The moral high ground preached Into the echo chamber is listened to by no one and not surprised at all. The master tells the good guy sht but damn. When was it washed rinsed off n out the cariculem never to be there n the alt histoy began being reapeted rejected erased would be cool to know what they told people when they told people. No doubt the most craven thing will be the words the on pop quizes describing the event in history class school kids memorization is taught not critical thought regarding history class. Any class
Bru how have u never head about this war did u actually listen in history class
Honestly I think that the worst part for the Mexicans wasn’t losing all that land to the United States as a result of the war. The worst part was having to sit by and watch as the US found gold in California a few years later. That had to sting.
Mexico for a long time after that has too many problems to deal with unfortunately. I don't think they cared. The good news is that they found a massive lithium deposit in the Sonora Desert
Now I want a Biographic for General and President Zachary Taylor.
He was solid all around.
The fact that the Mexican American war made dramatic changes to North America as a whole is amazing. Yet it is ignored by educators in North America. What are their motives?
Its simple why the war is overlooked in American history books.
1. The Texas revolution started because American immigrants in Mexican Texas were angry that Mexico outlawed slavery.
2. President Polk had to lie to congress in order to gain support for a war many Americans did not want.
3. American politicians questioned the morality of the war and saw it as an excuse to expand slavery.
4. Mexico never declared war on the U.S. nor did they ever invade U.S. territory. Most of the fighting was done by American troops invading Mexican territories.
5. The U.S. didn't hold their end of the bargain when it came to the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Mexicans in California and Texas were murdered and had their property stolen by white Americans despite being promised they would be protected as American citizens.
6. The only reason why the U.S. stopped at California and didn't annex all of Mexico wad because they didn't want a bunch of "mixed race half Indians people joining their white society".
@@Sean-bz8ri speaking only facts 💯
It's skimmed over in Mexico too. I'm married to a Mexican woman so I ask her and her family what do they know about the Mexican American War. All they say is that the US stole half of Mexico. They don't go into anything else
@@Sean-bz8ri thank God we did. Imagine the giant mess that Mexico is now, but twice the size.
Cuz they never wanted to look bad
Annexation= "We'll take it when we want to M-Fers"
Battle Of Belleau Wood WW1, a defining battle that basically made the modern US MARINE CORPS. Definitely worth this channels time
There’s a lot of USMC battles to choose from. Peliliu and the Chosen Reservoir are two other ones.
@@michaelsinger4638 I agree, however the number of MoH winners, and future Commandants alone makes the period around Belleau wood potentially a fun one too follow. Not to discount the others, but the sheer number of Marines who became leaders in WW2 and beyond that fought at Bellevue wood, Hill 142, and the surrounding area is monumental in the history of thr Corps and its modern incarnation.
I'd also thrown in the battle of Chapultepec, where the Corps earned its Blood Stripe, for no ither reason to shine some light on the reasons behind parts of our uniform.
Americans picking out battles in WW1 look we were here too 🤣
As a Mexican American the territory is in better hands 😂
😂😂😂right lol
America has screwed up so many nations in latin america, but this was a really low blow, man. Not only Lincoln opposed, Thoreau did too, and spent time in jail for it. But the better angels didn't prevailed.
So true.
Latin America screwed itself up by stupidly embracing the disastrous failures of Marxism. Mexico is to this day the epitome of government corruption, decay, and dysfunction.
@@Carlton_Wilson so, Mexico is a communist country?
@@carlosbriceno4240 No, thanks to America it isn't. The same can be said of many Latin American countries.
@@Carlton_Wilson I really don't know how to respond to delusional thought...
The texas rangers were the ones who suggested to smash down the walls in Monterrey.
Scott was quintessential military mastermind we speak of. Grant thanked him in his memoirs for the strategies he used against Mexico that later he himself used to crush the south in the Civil War. Scott was a Virginian, he stayed loyal to his country.
We need a second US manifest destiny.
Winfield Scott is the greatest American general of all time. Both as a commander in chief and as a field commander.
A most excellent discourse, sir!! Most informative, and entertaining!! Godspeed ❤😊
Great video. so important to shed some light on this seemingly near forgotten chapter in history. As an American, I do believe it was so brushed over in history classes because you can’t hide the imperialistic motive. The revolution or the war to end slavery is so much more gratifying to discuss.
Great historical narrative of Mexican American war! I would have enjoyed a rolling map showing battle sites and change in territory of topography
I highly recommend Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian which specifically addresses this period.
You are one of my FAVOURITE youtube historians - top three for sure (along with mark felton and Ian McCollum)
Great video guys, I have a suggestion for videos, do a four-part series of the Anglo-Dutch Wars. Obviously not all at the same time but I think that would be cool
Request for a video on the New Orleans Greys. William G Cooke (husband's ancestor) was the only senior officer to survive the war. Super interesting topic!
As a native Utahn I already knew much about this war, including the story of the Mormon Battalion. Mormon pioneers settled Salt Lake valley in July 1847, in the middle of the war
Excellent video, as always. It's interesting to read Ulysses S. Grant's recount of his experiences in the Mexican-American War in his autobiography. As Simon indicated, he thought it an unjust and immoral war.
That's a good one.
Incredible presentation. Gracias, From Mexico
Great video. I live in sunny Scottsdale Arizona, named after Winfield Scott.
While yes that's horrible, 1/10 odds of dying while captured has to be one of the better odds of survival historically... especially when talking about events that would be viewed as war crimes today. Again, not making light, just when I heard that I though of POWS caught by USSR or Nazi Germany and thought to myself "I'd draw a bean"
American and British POWs weren't treated that badly by Germany, although Russian POWs were.
Strange but true.
Zachary Taylor was a truly interesting man. I hope you do a Biographics video on him someday.
Also, recommendations:
Teutoburg ✔
Winter War ✔
Paraguayan War ✔
War of Spanish Succession
Naseby
Do you think you could do an episode on the Battle of Antietam/Sharpsburg? It is the single bloodiest day in American history with over 22,000 casualties. For comparison there were a bit over 10,000 combined Allied casualties at the Normandy landings. My family has multiple people that fought and died there with The Texas Brigade under Hood at Millers cornfield. It was some truly gruesome fighting with the Texas Brigade suffering over 60% casualties. When asked where his division was Hood simply replied dead on the field. Love the work you do Simon!
As I understand it, the Alta California spelled it, "Monterey." The other one on the east coast of Mexico was spelled with two TT. Thanks for the video.
This is what happened in parts of Mexico and which even some Mexicans today have no idea of -
The war started in April 1846 and officially ended February 1848. According to a Mexican source, around the start of the war, the Mexican federal government sent a large well equipped military force headed by coronel Rafael Tellez to defend California which really was mostly undefended. When he got to the port city of Mazatlan in the Mexican state of Sinaloa, he rebelled against the acting Mexican Pres. Arrillaga and with support from foreign business owners in Mazatlan , he took over the Southern part of Sinaloa. He created kind of a fiefdom.
Around September 1846, some US naval ships sailed off the coast of the port city of Mazatlan. In February 1847, the US sent the US Pacific squadron to blockaded the city. Problem with blockading the city was that it angered UK. business owners in the port city who complained to the UK. which sent UK. naval ships to protect the commercial rights of its citizen. Not wanting problems with the UK., the US lifted the blockade but then decided to takeover the port city.
So on October 11, 1847 they contacted coronel Rafael Tellez. He pulled his troops out of the port city (now you partially know why Stalin use to eliminate his military officers) and so the US forces landed. The US forces reached an agreement with the mayor Jose Maria Vasavilbazo. So the city was not put under martial law. US forces stayed for eight months. Should mention that on November 20, 1847 that US forces tried to break out of the port city via a section of the town called Urias. However, the Mexican captain of the Port by the name of Carlos Horn with a small detachment of troops stopped the advance. US troops then retreated back. After that incident nothing again ever happened.
According to the following US source, this is what happened - books.google.com.pr/books?id=_1DqVTdwmVkC&pg=PA347&lpg=PA347&dq=Rafael+Tellez+1846&source=bl&ots=aYUIHih66o&sig=ACfU3U19dfNZ01ZA1T9704QxPr7IYeMkFQ&hl=es&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwirv56Czar1AhWaSjABHc3BDZ4Q6AF6BAgmEAM#v=onepage&q=Rafael%20Tellez%201846&f=false
Going back, another force of Mexican troops had been sent from Acapulco to California but it was retained by General Juan Alvarez so it never left the Acapulco area. He was always worried about where the money to fight the war would come from. He once commented that Mexico used loan sharks to finance things.
This on him - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Álvarez
In the meantime, US troops during the war entered Durango state. They were just passing through Durango which is a large state. The Durango militia followed them from a distance without engaging them. After leaving Durango, the Governor of Durango called for a celebration.
Meanwhile, with the war going on the Mexican State of Zacatecas had decided to annex the small Mexican state of Aguas Caliente. With all the change of Pres. going on, it was decided by one of the new acting Pres. that the constitution of 1824 would be put back in place. So the Governor of Zacatecas went back to the 1824 situation when Aguascaliente was part of Zacatecas. Initially, there was resistance but in order not to create a bigger problem Aguascaliente let itself be annexed while trying to legally continue to fight this at the Fed. level. A decade later they again became a state.
In 1846 just before the war, Yucatan once again declared independence. There were also some native revolts in parts of Southern Mexico. Also the Polkos rebellion. Read this on that - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolt_of_the_Polkos
During the war many of Mexicos acting Pres. resigned. or were forced out which did not help the situation.
Recommend you read the following starting from former Mexican Pres. Valentín Canalizo to Manuel de la Peña y Peña.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_heads_of_state_of_Mexico
Seems if Valentín Canalizo had been in charge the US might not have been able to take Veracruz or possibly Mexico city. The main commander was Anna. And Canalizo at one point dropped from fighting since he felt Anna strategy was flawed.
Vaquero is the Mexican term for cowboy not for irregular combatants. Not to say ranchers and cowboys didn’t act as militia but that just ain’t what the word means.
Technically cowboy is a term for vaquero, because cowboy culture originated in Mexico.
However, the American version had better hats.
@@badluck5647 indeed you are correct the vaquero culture birthed the Texas ranching culture.
True
My sons new step grandfather (ugg) believes that it was right to fight the Mexican American war, you could see steam coming out of his ears when my boys told him, we went a picked a fight, so we could have our sea to shinning sea.
Some studio with big gonads should make a blockbuster movie out of all this: The Mexican-American War.
Thanks for the history lesson today.. I really appreciate what your doing.
Wait you have another channel?! My Whistler collection continues to grow.
The fight between Mexico and America for dominance over the continent was preordained from the moment the British founded their colony in Jamestown in response to the Spanish colonizing Central America.
People can whinge and moan about it, but it all comes down to human nature; we don't share well.
Nice to see that unlike your other videos, this is fairly unbiased.
Mexico never included Louisiana, The Louisiana purchase took place in 1803, Mexican independence in 1820. New Spain might have once included Louisiana but never Mexico.
This war reflects the Ukraine/Russian conflict the most.
Not really. The territory in the Mex-Am war was almost entirely empty. Ukraine is fully populated.
Yea but most of east Ukraine including Crimea are more populated by Russians kinda how US Southerners were Filibusting Texas from Mexico so it can eventually be annexed by the U.S
No it doesn't
Love to see the 1916 Easter rising (Dublin Ireland) 1916
How about doing a video on the st Patrick's battalion?
Good video
It is so weird to see that painting of a building I drive by on a regular basis in one of these videos.
Joseph Wheelan's book "Invading Mexico" on this war is a very good read.I just wish i could find Mexican scholarship on tge war, in translation
I jiggle everytime you say Santa Rana, it literally means Holy shefrog😆. Love your videos man, keep up the good work!
Loving how this channel covers the full scope and reason of conflict more like the other graphics channels. Goddamn Simon. I love 😘 u.
Enjoy your program. I hope you will do one on the Texas Revolution of 1835-36 and Republic if Texas soon. You did a good job of describing briefly the rolls these played in the run-up to the Mexica-American War.
I'm certain that's coming up
Actually, Mexico tried to negotiate to have Britain take over California. However, having finally settled the Oregon problem, Britain demurred. The US government was desperate for a treaty because there was a growing movement in the US to annex ALL of Mexico, which, being below the line of the Missouri Compromise, would have meant all of the states could have entered as slave states. And BTW, it's pronounced sly-DELL.
Nah don’t lie. They didn’t want Mexico because racism. “Missouri compromise” my ass
Lmao you do know the US got itself into a Civil War? Had it gotten all of Mexico, the Civil War would've been a lot more ugly.
Yes, the Trist mission was not fully explored in this video. Someone should write an alternate history with the US annexing all of Mexico and turning into a slave territory. The South may have then won the Civil War.
@@nuqwestr alternate history where the US annexes mexico:
stuff is a little difficult for a few years but then everything calms down. no cartels chopping off the heads of children and world peace is achieved sooner bc america is bigger. the end.
Wasn't Trist the one who ultimately decided not to take all of mexico?
There are 2 Mexican American war battlefields in Southern California. One in Whittier, and one in Temecula.
I was about to make the same comment, and found yours. At the top of comments, btw. I couldn't have said it better. Well done.
Awesome video! I've always wanted sharp details into this conflict.
The map of "young Mexico" at 02:00 is not accurate. It purports that at Mexican independence from Spain in 1821 that it owned land which the United States had purchased from France in the 'Louisiana Purchase' in 1803 (basically what its now the American Midwest down to the modern state of Louisiana) and land ceded from Spain to the US in the 1821 Adams-Onis Treaty (Florida and St. Augustine).
Could you do a history of the battles of the collapse of Yugoslavia? There isn’t much on the battles between the states as they separated and it’s important history.
Amazing research and work as always from Simon 👓👌 perfectly executed. I would like to mention an American war where its not well known but also interesting because of the early days of U.S imperialism in the Indo-Pacific region where a newly born republic in the orient was bought, tricked, annexed by the U.S from the dying empire of Spain: The Philippine-American war of 1899-1902.
Don't be ridiculous. By the time of the Treaty of Oregon in 1846 (when the British ceded the Northwest to the US) there was no chance of "the Limeys marching down to burn DC for a second time" (5:36). And it wasn't just _some people_ advocating war with Britain over the Northwest. "Fifty-Four Forty or Fight!", a reference to where he wanted the new border established, was a well-known campaign slogan of President Polk's in the 1844 election. After negotiations, in order to avoid war, Britain and the US settled on the 49th Parallel.
Well done, Simon. Thank you.
And then Americans started to declare war left and right with Latin American counries, countless invasions.
From wikipedia "1898 to 1935: The United States launched multiple minor interventions into Latin America, resulting in U.S. military presence in Cuba, Honduras, Panama (via the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty and Isthmian Canal Commission),[11] Haiti (1915-1935),[12] the Dominican Republic (1916-1924) and Nicaragua (1912-1925) & (1926-1933).[13] The U.S. Marine Corps began to specialize in long-term military occupation of these countries, primarily to safeguard customs revenues which were the cause of local civil wars.[14]"
A british guy getting upset about imperialism, hilarious love this comedy sketch!
Hahaha that’s a really funny take on the video bro have you thought about a career in analysis?? Or maybe comedy? I think you’d really strike gold as your talent is clearly wasted on a RUclips comment section!
VERY well done, Simon and team!
From the Halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli
Winfield Scott’s campaign to reach Mexico City was very impressive.
Abraham Lincoln opposed this war as well I believe.
he was probably the only ally mexico had in the 19th century.
So basically, Texas is to the USA what Crimea, Kherson, Donbas and Lugansk were / are to Russia.