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The Mexican War by Otis A. Singletary Otis A. Singletary wrote The Mexican War. The book is full with various events that took place in American history during the time of war. Singletary's book is a complete description of historic events. According to Singletary, Mexican War was actually the most successful offensive war in the American military history.
The Mexican War closely examines the situations in Mexico and in the United States. Singletary has been remarkably successful, despite the brevity of his book, in describing with important details of the Mexican War. Singletary had all needed sources to produce such a precise book. The Mexican War can be break into two main parts. The first part gives background, which explains different reasons that played a decisive role for the break out of the war, and it relates the different campaigns that allowed the invasion of northern Mexico and the city of Mexico. The second half of the book deals with the way politician and generals behave during the war, and the book ends touching the role played by diplomacy in this war.
The book was written after the war. The Mexican War not only give facts that can be found in any history book that deals with this period of American history (1840 s), but it also makes the reader appreciate a war that has been undermined by another very popular war, the Civil war. The book precipitated by border disputes and the U. S.
annexation of Texas, ended with the military occupation of Mexico City by General Winfield Scott. In the subsequent treaty, the United States gained territory that would become California, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and parts of Wyoming and Colorado. The Mexican War explains that the annexation of Texas was not the only reason for going into war, since there were other factors that motivated Americans anger towards Mexican military, which set the stage for conflict. The annexation of Texas was merely the immediate cause of hostilities. This gives readers another perspective about the war. Due to the age of the book, it becomes possible for the author to examine all aspects of that specific period.
With this acquisition of new land, the United States added land equal to one-third the size of the existing U. S. territory. With this new land came new settlers to this region and a sense that manifest destiny would soon be complete.
The Mexican War became a proving ground for many Civil War heroes, veterans, and military tactics. Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant fought side-by-side to help overthrow the Mexican forces led by Santa Anna. Thomas Jackson and several other Civil War military officers helped to win the fight for the United States. The Mexican War also was a testing ground for the United States Navy, Marines, and the field troops, which would prove very decisive in several battles of the Civil War.
People who have interest in history of our country are the audience of the book. The book uses maps and pictures. Maps and pictures are helpful in visualizing what is being described, and they allow having and idea of how it was during this war. However, I think that book is the best for historians, who want to get in depth of all the facts of the Mexican War.
President James Polk, during his presidency, had a vision to fulfill the manifest destiny by expanding the power and the borders of the United States. Mexico was not very happy with the United States annexing part of their territory and reacted violently, but Polk attempted to make peace. According to Singletary, Polk attempted several times for peace; one attempt sent John Side to Mexico City to negotiate the purchases of California for 25 million dollars, but it was rejected by the Mexicans. The rejection of this proposed treaty and the concept of the manifest destiny inspired Polk to protect the U. S. s rightful territory with troops on the Texas border.
The Mexicans responded by also installing troops on the border for protection despite the deal Polk had with Santa Anna. The Americans saw the Mexican War as a fight for their destiny and were willing to fight for their manifest destiny. The topics of the book are the political intrigues and quarrels in appointing the military commanders, as well as the military operations of the war, are presented and analyzed in detail. Singletary analyzes the role that the Mexican War played in bringing on the U. S.
Civil War, which is the main topic of the book. Furthermore, Singletary does a great job in describing how politic interest affected the war greatly. The Mexican War, through political parties and training grounds for the Civil War, had many far-reaching effects in American history. According to the author, it helped to escalate the fight over slavery because of the western land. It changed the status or popularity of political parties through the decline of the Whig Party and the rise of the Republican Party. It greatly increased the size of the United States by adding one-third more land.
Also during this time, the U. S. was negotiating the border with Canada. The British wanted the border lower than the 49 th parallel while the U. S. wanted it farther up.
They finally came to an agreement, which made the border between the U. S. and Canada the 49 th parallel and gave us the territory known as the Oregon country. Then to cap off the idea of manifest destiny, in 1853 the Gadsden Purchase was made which totaled up to ten million dollars. It bought the rest of Arizona and New Mexico from Mexico and expanded our country from the east coast to the west coast as many people had imagined many years earlier.
I believe in Singletary's point that Mexican War had greatly influenced the situation in the United States. Unstable situation in the country after the war had caused the break of the Civil War. Different documents were used by Singletary for writing his book, but the author primarily relied upon original sources. The author provides enough historical evidence supporting the thesis. Some Americans believe that the Mexican War was a barefaced plot to expand slavery; however, the Mexican War by Singletary the war is seen as something that was necessary to settle disputes between the two countries, and through the support of the Manifest Destiny. Singletary in his book had proved that the Mexican War was in the National interest.
The book does not appear to be too long. It carries just right amount of information if order to fully understand historical events. Writer Joseph Chance stated the following: Otis Singletary's The Mexican War is a concise and excellent overview of the war. Its greatest strength is the way it brings the personalities and personal conflicts to life. It provides great insight into the way politics intruded upon the prosecution of the war (Chance). In conclusion, this book has been very informative.
It is recommendable for all persons that wish to appreciate the Mexican war and to have a better understanding of how it influenced in American history. The book is simple and easy to read. The author has a good use of English language. He uses specific words, therefore making his book highly readable, which makes it possible for everyone to understand the event of the war.
The Mexican War is definitely interesting to read if you would like to get in depth of history of our country. Bibliography: Singletary, Otis. The Mexican War. Chicago, University of Chicago Press. 1968 Chance, Joseph. History by Chance. web
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