Mexican-American War
Two nations collided across deserts and mountains, their destinies forged in blood, ambition, and betrayal. The Mexican-American War redrew the map of North America—and left scars that endure to this day.
Quick Facts
- Period
- 1846 - 1848
- Region
- Americas
- Casualties
- Estimated 37,000–50,000 total dead, including military and civilian casualties on both sides.
- Outcome
- The United States decisively defeated Mexico, seizing vast territories and reshaping the continent’s borders with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
- Key Figures
- Antonio López de Santa Anna, James K. Polk, Mariano Arista +2 more
Key Figures
Antonio López de Santa Anna
General/President
MexicoAntonio López de Santa Anna was a man of paradox: a self-styled savior of Mexico who, through his ambition and caprice, ...
James K. Polk
President
United StatesJames K. Polk was a man whose inner landscape was as unyielding as the territorial lines he sought to redraw. Raised in ...
Mariano Arista
General
MexicoMariano Arista was a disciplined and methodical officer whose military and political career unfolded amid the relentless...
Winfield Scott
General-in-Chief
United StatesWinfield Scott was more than a military commander—he was a living embodiment of order, discipline, and the striving for ...
Zachary Taylor
General
United StatesZachary Taylor embodied a peculiar blend of humility and iron-willed stubbornness that defined both his military career ...
The Story
This narrative combines documented history with dramatized scenes for storytelling purposes.
Tensions & Preludes
In the years before war, the borderlands between Mexico and the United States simmered with tension, thick as summer heat. The echoes of revolution still haunte...
Spark & Outbreak
The morning after gunfire shattered the uneasy calm along the banks of the Rio Grande, the American camp was a place of grim calculation and restless purpose. S...
Escalation
The road south from the Rio Grande was lined with misery. Dust rose in choking clouds as General Taylor’s army pressed toward Monterrey in September 1846, turni...
Turning Point
CHAPTER 4: Turning Point The Valley of Mexico, ringed by mountains and shrouded in a perpetual volcanic haze, became the crucible of the war’s final act. For m...
Resolution & Aftermath
CHAPTER 5: Resolution & Aftermath The thunder of cannon faded, but in the silence that followed, the true cost of the Mexican-American War became agonizingly c...
Timeline
Thornton Affair
A Mexican cavalry detachment ambushed a US Army patrol north of the Rio Grande, killing or capturing sixteen soldiers. This incident provided President Polk with the justification to seek a declaration of war.
Location: Near Brownsville, Texas
Battle of Palo Alto
General Zachary Taylor’s forces clashed with General Mariano Arista’s troops in open prairie. Superior American artillery secured a decisive victory, forcing the Mexican army to retreat.
Location: Palo Alto, Texas
Battle of Resaca de la Palma
Taylor’s troops pursued the retreating Mexicans and fought a fierce, chaotic battle in dense chaparral. The Americans captured Mexican artillery, and Arista’s forces fled across the Rio Grande.
Location: Resaca de la Palma, Texas
Siege and Capture of Monterrey
US forces besieged the fortified city of Monterrey, engaging in intense house-to-house fighting. After three days, the Mexican defenders surrendered the city under terms allowing withdrawal.
Location: Monterrey, Mexico
Siege of Veracruz
General Winfield Scott launched an amphibious assault on Veracruz, bombarding the city for days. The siege resulted in heavy civilian casualties and the eventual surrender of the garrison.
Location: Veracruz, Mexico
Battle of Cerro Gordo
Scott’s army outflanked and routed Santa Anna’s forces at Cerro Gordo, opening the road to Mexico City. The Mexican army suffered heavy losses and retreated in disorder.
Location: Cerro Gordo, Mexico
Battles of Contreras and Churubusco
US forces won back-to-back victories on the outskirts of Mexico City, breaking through Mexican defensive lines. The defeats demoralized Mexican troops and hastened the advance on the capital.
Location: Near Mexico City, Mexico
Battle of Molino del Rey
A costly and bloody engagement near Mexico City, as US troops attacked Mexican positions at the Molino del Rey. Both sides suffered heavy casualties before the Americans seized the position.
Location: Mexico City, Mexico
Battle of Chapultepec
US forces assaulted the fortress of Chapultepec, defended by Mexican soldiers and cadets. The fall of the castle opened the way for the capture of Mexico City.
Location: Mexico City, Mexico
Occupation of Mexico City
American troops entered and occupied Mexico City after fierce street fighting. The conquest marked the effective end of organized Mexican resistance.
Location: Mexico City, Mexico
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The treaty was signed, ending the war. Mexico ceded vast territories to the United States, and the Rio Grande was established as the new border.
Location: Guadalupe Hidalgo, Mexico
Ratification of Treaty
The US and Mexican governments ratified the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, formalizing the territorial transfer and the end of hostilities. The new border was enforced under US military occupation.
Location: Washington, D.C. / Mexico City
Sources
- wikipediaMexican–American War – Wikipedia
Comprehensive overview of the conflict, battles, and aftermath.
- bookA Wicked War: Polk, Clay, Lincoln and the 1846 U.S. Invasion of Mexico
Amy S. Greenberg’s acclaimed narrative history of the war and its political context.
- articleThe Mexican War, 1846-1848
National Park Service article summarizing key events and figures.
- bookThe Dead March: A History of the Mexican-American War
Peter Guardino’s in-depth, scholarly account of the war’s causes and consequences.
- videoU.S.–Mexican War (1846–1848) – PBS Documentary
Four-part documentary series on the PBS website.
- primaryTreaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo – Our Documents
Full English text of the treaty with historical background.
- articleManifest Destiny and the Mexican-American War
Library of Congress primary sources and teaching materials.
- videoThe U.S.-Mexican War: A Binational Documentary
Companion film to the PBS series, with interviews and archival footage.
- library guideThe Mexican-American War (1846-1848): A Guide to Resources
Library of Congress research guide with links to primary and secondary materials.
Connected Across The Archives
Explore specific connections to other archives—civilizations, dynasties, companies, and treaties that share history with this conflict.
Civilization Archive
(3)Apache Civilization
The Apache faced intensified U.S. military campaigns post-Mexican-American War, disrupting their traditional lands and way of life.
Aztec Civilization
The Mexican-American War marked a post-Aztec era where European colonial powers reshaped the Americas, influencing modern national boundaries.
Comanche Nation
The Comanche Nation's resistance was undermined by U.S. territorial gains from the Mexican-American War, leading to loss of sovereignty.
Explore Related Archives
Wars reshape borders, topple dynasties, and transform civilizations. Explore the broader context of history's conflicts.
