Mexican American War Research Paper

Mexican American War By:Mihir Bhalla

The Mexican American war lasted from 1846 to 1848. This was a war between an unprepared Mexico and America the war was fought on the southwestern side of America. The Mexican American war brought back the argument of slavery, which was one of the causes that lead up to the civil war. The Mexican American war was important in America’s history because it was a battle between great leaders. The people that were involved were General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, General Stephen W. Kearny, and General Zachary Taylor.

General Antonio Lopez was born on February 21, 1794. He lived in Xalapa, Mexico he was important during the war

because he was the leader of the Mexican army. He had already gained the presidency in 1833 as a federalist but then lost power in 1836. After he lost the presidency, not only was he an army officer, he was also a statesman. He was the center of Mexico’s politics during both the Texas annexation and the Mexican American war. When war broke out between Mexico and America, he contacted James K. Polk. He said he wanted to make peace, but then he took his army to attack the U.S.. He was stopped by General Winfield Scott and then retired. He was important during the war because he was one of the reasons the war actually started because he attacked the Americans in Texas. After the Americans won the war he was exiled again in Columbia. The came back to Mexico and gained the presidency for the 11th time.

Another very important person in the Mexican American war was General Stephen W. kearny. He was born on August 30, 1794 in Newark, NJ. he died on October 31, 1848 in St.Louis, MO. He was a very important in the Mexican American war because he was the general of the first United States Dragon regiment. In the war he was sent to gain new Mexico. He captured Santa Fe in 1846 then he created a government in the province. After he went to gain California he traveled along the Rio grande. He sent most of his men to other places in the war, but brought some to Los Angeles. In los Angeles he helped suppress a revolt by the Mexicans. Even with him their the Americans lost the war of San Pascual. He was able to bring back his army together in the middle of January,1847. After the war had ended, he was still a great and he became a great military governor until the summer of 1847.