This article is adapted fromAQ'sspecial issue on the U.S.-Mexico relationship. To receiveAQat home,subscribe here.
I recently asked a group of mostly American students to identify important military figures in wars involving the United States. They easily produced names from the War of Independence, the Civil War and World War II. But they went blank trying to remember heroes from other wars, including one in particular: the Mexican-American War of 18461848. Most could sing the opening line from the Marine Hymn, From the Halls of Montezuma but none knew where it came from.
Are there some wars that nations prefer to forget? Such collective amnesia is odd, since the Mexican-American War marked such a pivotal moment in the history of both countries. The story is certainly better known in Mexico, which lost half its territory in the war and still remembers the nios heroes, a group of teenage cadets who bravely resisted the U.S. invasion of Mexico City and then leaped to their death off the barricades of Chapultepec Castle rather than surrender to the gringo invaders. But overall, on both sides of the border, the war is viewed mostly with regretand, perhaps, as a cautionary tale on the unique perils of picking a fight with ones neighbor.
For the United States, the war heralded the triumph of Manifest Destiny while also nurturing the 19th-century notion of the invincible Anglo-Saxon man, destined to rule over lesser peoples, brown and black. With the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo that ended the war, the United States increased its size by more than a thirdvirtually all of the American Southwest. But what most altered U.S. history was the consequent debate on whether the annexed territories should become free or slave states, a debate that helped trigger the American Civil War.
Several distinguished Americans condemned the war. Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau and Walt Whitman censured it on ethical grounds. Abraham Lincoln argued that it had no legal justification. William Lloyd Garrison, abolitionist par excellence, summed the war up as follows:
If ever war was waged for basest ends, By means perfidious, profligate and low, It is the present war with Mexico, Which in deep guilt all other wars transcends.
Perhaps the most withering criticism of the war can be found in Ulysses S. Grants memoirs, where he writes that (The) occupation, separation and annexation (of Texas) were, from the inception of the movement to its final consummation, a conspiracy to acquire territory out of which slave states might be formed for the American Union. It was an instance of a republic following the bad examples of European monarchies, in not considering justice in their desire to acquire additional territory. A page later, he affirms that (The) Southern rebellion was largely the outgrowth of the Mexican war. Nations, like individuals, are punished for their transgressions. We got our punishment in the most sanguinary and expensive war of modern times. In sum, Grant saw the Civil War as a divine retribution for what the U.S. did to Mexico.
If the United States chooses not to remember the war, Mexicans remember it too wellbut with a mixture of pride and shame. In addition to the courageous nios hroes, they can take pride in the guerilla tactics of Father Jarauta, who repeatedly disrupted Winfred Scotts supply lines. They might also remember the Patricios, the Irish-American soldiers who defected to Mexico rather than fight against fellow Catholics, as well as the countless Mexican campesinos forced to fight under incompetent generals like Antonio Lpez de Santana. General Grant writes of these men:
The Mexican army of that day was hardly an organization. The private soldier was picked up from the lower class of the inhabitants when wanted; his consent was not asked; he was poorly clothed, worse fed, and seldom paid. He was turned adrift when no longer wanted. With all this I have seen as brave stands made by some of these men as I have ever seen made by soldiers. (The Mexicans) stood up as well as any troops ever did. The trouble seemed to be the lack of experience among the officers, which led them after a certain time to simply quit, without being particularly whipped, but because they had fought enough.
But the real embarrassment for Mexico is that their leaders failed to play to their advantages. The United States launched two invasions: one from Texas under General Zachary Scott and another from Veracruz on the eastern coast under General Winfred Scott. The Yankees were better equipped and better trained. But this alone cannot explain how they were able to cover hundreds of miles over difficult terrain before occupying Mexico City. What best explained their victory were the divisions within Mexican society, which in broad strokes consisted of three major groups: anticlerical liberals set on limiting the powers and capping the wealth of the church; conservatives who wanted to restore traditional rights to the church; and a third group, overlapping with the Catholic faction, who wanted to bring a monarch from Europe to govern Mexico. General Scott was particularly good at exploiting these divisions. For example, he bought supplies and gained free passage through Puebla merely by promising Puebla Catholics that he would respect the rights of the Churchabout which he probably could not have cared less.
Mexican historian Heriberto Fras, in his book La Guerra Contra los Gringos, basically agrees with Grants diagnosis of the weaknesses of the Mexican army, writing that, From that moment (of the first battle) there spread throughout the army the most abominable dissension, one of the principal causes of the bloody catastrophes of that war of cursed memory. He goes on to condemn the repugnant and execrable egoism of the Mexican generals, who could never agree on a coordinated plan.
Arguably, Mexicos side of the story may best be found in a series of historical novels such as Guillermo Zambranos Mxico por Asalto, Francisco Martn Morenos Mxico Mutilado, Patricia Coxs El Batalln de San Patricio, or Ignacio Solares La Invasin. Particularly interesting in Solares novel are his attempts to draw parallels between General Scotts advance toward Mexico City and Hernn Corts march toward Tenochtitln. Both accomplished their goals by taking advantage of divisions within the local populace.
Since that fateful day in 1848 when Mexico signed away half of its territory, relations between the United States and Mexico have seen ups and downs. One recalls the sentence attributed to Mexican President (and autocrat) Porfirio Daz: Poor Mexico. So far from God and so close to the United States.
In the last several decades, things seemed to be improving. The United States benefitted enormously from undocumented Mexican labor, and Mexican-descended U.S. citizens contribute much to the American mosaic. Similarly, NAFTA, for all its flaws, has benefitted both countries. But we should not forget that fatal war of the late 1840s and the fact that when things go badly, conflicts have a way of bringing out some of the worst in both countries.
Excerpt from:
Here's What Happens When the US and Mexico Fight - Americas Quarterly
- Egoism | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2016] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2016]
- PHILOSOPHY Ethics [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2016] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2016]
- Ethical Egoism - Seven Pillars Institute [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2016] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2016]
- Egoism | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2016] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2016]
- Ethical egoism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2016] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2016]
- Ethical Egoism - spot.colorado.edu [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2016] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2016]
- Ethics Updates - Ethical Egoism [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2016] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2016]
- Ethical Egoism - Drury University [Last Updated On: March 21st, 2016] [Originally Added On: March 21st, 2016]
- Dr. Charles Kay Egoism [Last Updated On: March 23rd, 2016] [Originally Added On: March 23rd, 2016]
- Ethical Egoism - Lander University [Last Updated On: March 23rd, 2016] [Originally Added On: March 23rd, 2016]
- The Differences Between Utilitarianism & Ethical Egoism [Last Updated On: June 7th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 7th, 2016]
- Ethical egoism - RationalWiki [Last Updated On: June 7th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 7th, 2016]
- The Differences Between Utilitarianism & Ethical Egoism [Last Updated On: June 8th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 8th, 2016]
- Ayn Rand - Ethical Egoism [Last Updated On: June 8th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 8th, 2016]
- Ethical Egoism - Carnegie Mellon University [Last Updated On: June 13th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 13th, 2016]
- Ethical Egoism - University of Colorado Boulder [Last Updated On: June 17th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 17th, 2016]
- Ethical Egoism and Biblical Self-Interest | Papers at ... [Last Updated On: June 26th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 26th, 2016]
- Psychological Egoism vs Ethical Egoism | Flow Psychology [Last Updated On: June 27th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 27th, 2016]
- Ethical Egoism and Biblical Self-Interest | Papers at ... [Last Updated On: June 27th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 27th, 2016]
- Psychological Egoism vs Ethical Egoism | Flow Psychology [Last Updated On: June 28th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 28th, 2016]
- Psychological Egoism - Philosophy Home Page [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2016]
- Egoism - Queensborough Community College [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2016]
- Ethical Egoism - College Essays - 1656 Words - StudyMode [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2016]
- Egoism - New World Encyclopedia [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2016]
- Dave's Philosophy - Ethics: Ethical Egoism & Altruism [Last Updated On: August 10th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 10th, 2016]
- Ethical Egoism - Education [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2016] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2016]
- Ethical Egoism - Mega Essays [Last Updated On: October 29th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 29th, 2016]
- Rational egoism - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: November 21st, 2016] [Originally Added On: November 21st, 2016]
- Psychological Egoism - University of Idaho [Last Updated On: December 7th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 7th, 2016]
- Psychological Egoism | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy [Last Updated On: December 21st, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 21st, 2016]
- Comparing Psychological & Ethical Egoism - Study.com [Last Updated On: December 25th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 25th, 2016]
- Consequentialism - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: December 25th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 25th, 2016]
- More than a game: ND Ethics Week examines sports and the common good - ND Newswire [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- THE BACKSTORY: How Trump got to yes on Gorusch -- PLAYBOOK EXCLUSIVE: PETRAEUS warns US ... - Politico [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Lecture series explores ethics in sports industry - Observer Online [Last Updated On: February 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 15th, 2017]
- The Weakness and wickedness of Kiir's Administration: South Sudan in political and ethnic crisis - Borglobe [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2017]
- Rebel Crossings by Sheila Rowbotham review feminist utopian dreams - The Guardian [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2017]
- Human Nature, Morality, & Salvation Jewish Theology Pt. IV - Patheos (blog) [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2017]
- A Jewish Social Vision Jewish Theology, Pt. VI - Patheos (blog) [Last Updated On: March 4th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 4th, 2017]
- Reinhold Niebuhr and our common good - Bowling Green Daily News [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2017]
- Pope Francis, Religion, Capitalism, and Ayn Rand - The Objective Standard [Last Updated On: March 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 8th, 2017]
- In defence of hedonism - Irish Times [Last Updated On: March 29th, 2017] [Originally Added On: March 29th, 2017]
- Ahmad Zahid: Satirism is not a Malaysian culture - Yahoo News - Yahoo News [Last Updated On: April 15th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 15th, 2017]
- Debate: Is Ayn Rand right about rights? - Learn Liberty (blog) [Last Updated On: April 17th, 2017] [Originally Added On: April 17th, 2017]
- Psychological Egoism and Ethical Egoism [Last Updated On: May 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 11th, 2017]
- Ethical issues in Nigeria's higher education and governance - Nigeria Today [Last Updated On: May 26th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 26th, 2017]
- Are These 5 Grievances About Millennials Character Strengths? - monroviaweekly [Last Updated On: May 26th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 26th, 2017]
- 'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt' Season Three Proves It's The Smartest Show On Television - Decider [Last Updated On: May 26th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 26th, 2017]
- Are These 5 Grievances About Millennials Character Strengths? - Siera Madre Weekly [Last Updated On: May 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 28th, 2017]
- Considerations for Planning Humanitarian Operations in Hybrid Warfare - smallwarsjournal [Last Updated On: May 30th, 2017] [Originally Added On: May 30th, 2017]
- Why Is It Difficult to Live Together in Differences? (A Reflection) - Netralnews [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2017]
- Free ethical relativism Essays and Papers - 123helpme [Last Updated On: June 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 1st, 2017]
- 'Wounded but not dead' Cassola says AD right in not joini... - MaltaToday [Last Updated On: June 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 6th, 2017]
- Mailbag: The limits of ethical egoism - Albany Democrat Herald [Last Updated On: June 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 23rd, 2017]
- Orwell vs Huxley vs Zamyatin: Who would win a dystopian fiction contest? - Scroll.in [Last Updated On: June 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 25th, 2017]
- egoism | philosophy | Britannica.com [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2017] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2017]
- IDF Medics to Learn Groundbreaking Trauma Procedure - Breaking Israel News [Last Updated On: July 17th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 17th, 2017]
- The Courage to Face a Lifetime: On the Enduring Value of Ayn Rand's Philosophy - IAI News [Last Updated On: July 27th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 27th, 2017]
- On Albert Einstein's peaceful musings - The Livingston County News [Last Updated On: July 28th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 28th, 2017]
- Egoism: Examples and Definition | Philosophy Terms [Last Updated On: August 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 9th, 2017]
- You say you want a revolution - Boulder Weekly [Last Updated On: August 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 25th, 2017]
- US Expels Cuban Diplomats for Threatening National Security - Headlinez Pro [Last Updated On: September 24th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 24th, 2019]
- Beyond the chorus of indignation - The Jerusalem Post [Last Updated On: October 24th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 24th, 2019]
- mile Durkheim and the Religion of Liberal Democracy - Tablet Magazine [Last Updated On: November 17th, 2019] [Originally Added On: November 17th, 2019]
- What Is Ethical Egoism? - ThoughtCo [Last Updated On: December 13th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2019]
- Ethical Egoism Theory Explained - HRF [Last Updated On: February 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: February 29th, 2020]
- 15 Important Pros and Cons of Ethical Egoism ConnectUS [Last Updated On: April 9th, 2020] [Originally Added On: April 9th, 2020]
- On the Mode of Existence of Smart Urban Object - ArchDaily [Last Updated On: May 24th, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 24th, 2020]
- Vladimir Putin: The real lessons of the 75th anniversary of World War II - The New Times [Last Updated On: June 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 20th, 2020]
- 75th Anniversary of the Great Victory: Shared Responsibility to History and our Future - New Europe [Last Updated On: June 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 20th, 2020]
- The Difference Between Ethical Egoism & Ethical ... [Last Updated On: August 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: August 8th, 2020]
- Book Review: Philanthropy - Can the rich save the world? - Independent Catholic News [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2021]
- North Korea criticises nations for piling up the excessive supply of COVID-19 vaccines - WION [Last Updated On: June 6th, 2021] [Originally Added On: June 6th, 2021]
- Global Ethical Responsibility in the Context of Covid - Valdai Discussion Club [Last Updated On: July 2nd, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 2nd, 2021]
- Religious Diversity And Religious Revival Will Come Together OpEd - Eurasia Review [Last Updated On: July 14th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 14th, 2021]
- The Goal of Yoga - Daily Pioneer [Last Updated On: July 14th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 14th, 2021]
- My daughter no longer speaks to me or my husband, and mocked our family values. Do we cut her out of her $2 million inheritance? - MarketWatch [Last Updated On: July 29th, 2021] [Originally Added On: July 29th, 2021]
- Ch. 3: Ethical Egoism - Lucid Philosophy [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2021]
- What Is Ethical Egoism and its Examples Example | GraduateWay [Last Updated On: December 23rd, 2021] [Originally Added On: December 23rd, 2021]
- 10 Denim Industry Experts on the Highs, Lows and Predictions for 2022 - Sourcing Journal [Last Updated On: January 24th, 2022] [Originally Added On: January 24th, 2022]