Mexican-American War
Episode56
February 15, 2021
Come and Take It: Texas, California, and the Road to War
From Santa Anna's rise to power and his shift into dictatorship, to the opening shots at Gonzales and the brutality at Goliad, we trace how Texian resistance escalated into a broader national conflict. We also discuss how Manifest Destiny shaped public sentiment, how the U.S. used diplomatic maneuvering backed by military force, and how the Marine Corps, despite its small size, played a crucial role in shaping the campaign. You'll hear about General Zachary Taylor's early victories, the strategic occupation of Matamoros, and how Marines were used to project force along both coasts.
References
- Horsman, R. (2009). Race and Manifest Destiny: The Origins of American Racial Anglo-Saxonism. United Kingdom: Harvard University Press.
- John O'Sullivan, "Annexation," The United States Magazine and Democratic Review, Volume 17 (New York: 1845), 5-6, 9-10.
- Smith, J. H. (1911). The Annexation of Texas. United States: Barnes & Noble, Incorporated.
- U.S.Cong. (1845). The Declaration of Independence: Articles of Confederation, and Constitution of the United States ; the joint resolution of the Congress of the United States for annexing Texas, and the joint resolution of the Congress of Texas consenting to annexation ; and the Constitution of the state of Texas .. [Cong. Bill]. Austin?
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