history

Overview of Today's Lecture

The lecture covers significant historical events of the 1850s and 1860s leading up to the Civil War, with particular attention to the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) and its political, social, and cultural contexts.

Announcements

  • Upcoming Lecturers:

    • Hugo Casa Ramirez (CEA) today.

    • Professor Vivian Tejada on Thursday.

  • Office Hours:

    • Today: 09:30 to 10:45

    • Thursday: 09:30 to 11:45

Mexican-American War

Background Information

  • Time Frame: 1846-1848.

  • Focus:

    • Political and cultural context of the invasion.

    • Social dynamics during the war.

    • Insights from Mexican historiography.

Cultural Reference

  • Song: "We Are War Americans" by La Pita de Nocton.

    • Genres: Corruptos, songs that circulate news and commemorate events in Chicano life.

    • Themes:

      • Historical asymmetries of power between the US and Mexico.

      • References to contemporary immigration policies and indigenous heritage.

Historical Themes

  • Imperialism and Foreign Intervention:

    • Contemporary relevance; examples include the Gulf of Mexico being renamed to the Gulf of America and interventions in Venezuela.

    • Reflection on historical processes still manifest in today’s politics.

Monroe Doctrine

  • Definition: U.S. foreign policy stating that the Americas were closed to further European colonization without interference in European affairs.

  • Key Figures: John Quincy Adams and James Monroe.

  • Contrast with Manifest Destiny:

    • Monroe Doctrine primarily defensive vs. Manifest Destiny as an offensive belief in a divine duty to expand U.S. terrain.

Manifest Destiny

  • Definition: The belief that the U.S. was destined to expand across North America to "civilize" the land and its inhabitants.

  • Origin: Coined by journalist John L. O'Sullivan in a call for the annexation of Texas.

    • Quote from O'Sullivan: "Texas is now ours…" - affirming a strong sense of destiny that supported imperialistic pursuits.

    • Context: Support for expansionism included justifications such as preserving slavery and creating plantation societies in new territories (e.g., filibustering).

  • Implications: Provided rationale for U.S. Empire across North America.

Historical Context of Settlement and Governance

  • Early Governance Issues: Evolving power struggles in Mexico between federalists and centralists and implications for territorial control.

  • **Plight of Indigenous Communities: **The complexity of indigenous tribal dynamics and governance in what would become U.S. territories.

  • Presidio System: Included military and religious missions, reflecting Spanish civilizing tactics over indigenous peoples.

  • Key Indigenous Groups: Comanches, Chitimecas, and Apaches encountered challenges in maintaining land against U.S. encroachment and raiding tactics.

Specific Case Study: Texas

  • Colonization Laws of 1825: Attracting settlers with land grants, requiring them to be Catholic and adhere to moral principles.

  • Struggles for Autonomy: Tensions between settlers who aimed to preserve slavery and Mexican laws abolishing it.

  • Texas Independence: Key events included the Battle of the Alamo and subsequent recognition of Texan independence on April 21, 1836.

War with Mexico

  • Political Context: James K. Polk's administration and motivations behind the war.

  • Military Operations: Disputes over territory, perception of indigenous raids, and subsequent U.S. military actions.

  • Social Impacts of War: Anti-expansionist thoughts from figures like Abraham Lincoln and Henry David Thoreau's civil disobedience against war for moral grounds.

Consequences of the War

  • Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848): Ended the Mexican-American War, leading to the "Mexican secession" that included California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.

  • Cultural Memory: Different narratives of the war in Mexico versus the U.S., highlighting issues of identity and national pride.

    • In Mexico, it is often viewed as an invasion, affecting how history is remembered.

Legacy and Historical Narratives

  • Commemorations and National Identity: Events and figures in Mexican resistance became symbols of national pride (e.g., the Child Heroes of Chapultepec Castle).

  • Cultural Impact Through Literature: The usage of history in literature and education to perpetuate national identities is noted.

Modern Implications and Final Thoughts

  • Modern Legacy: Investigating how imperialism has shaped current U.S.-Latin American relations.

  • Cultural Memory in Mexico: The legacy of the missions and the representation of colonization in Mexico's public consciousness.

  • Contemporary Discourse: Discussion of interventionist policies of the U.S. reflecting historical imperialistic sentiment.

Closing Discussion

  • Open Questions: Students are encouraged to reflect and discuss the themes of the lecture, such as the intersection of history and current politics, and the evolving identity narratives in both nations.

  • Future sessions will delve deeper into post-war implications and discussions on indigenous histories.

Discussion Prompt

  • Invite students to consider how these themes of imperialism manifest today and how historical interpretations shape national identities and ongoing political tensions.