How Americans captured half of Mexico

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170 years ago, 25 April 1846, the American-Mexican War began (Mexican War). The war began with territorial disputes between Mexico and the United States after the capture of Texas by the United States in 1845. Mexico was defeated and lost vast territories: the United States was given over to Upper California and New Mexico, that is, the lands of the modern states of California, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Utah. Mexico lost more than 500 thousand square miles (1,3 million square kilometers), that is, half of its territory.

prehistory

For a considerable period between Mexico and the United States, there were controversial issues. The American government claimed the whole of the mainland (the so-called concept of “predestination of Fate”) and was contemptuous of a republic that could not restore order in its territory. The Mexicans were afraid of the expansion of the Anglo-Saxons. After Mexico gained its independence in 1821, the American government tried to raise the question of US territorial concessions to the United States as a condition for its recognition. The first US envoy to Mexico City, Joel Poinsett, in 1822, put forward a project to include Texas, New Mexico, Upper and Lower California, and several other territories in the United States. It is clear that such a project did not find understanding among the Mexican authorities.

The United States did not give up hope for the accession of Texas and California even after the conclusion of an agreement with Mexico on borders in 1828, confirming the demarcation established by the Transcontinental Treaty of 1819. Attempts by the administrations of Andrew Jackson and John Tyler to buy from Mexico at least part of the California coast were unsuccessful. They also failed to achieve a change in the border with Mexico in such a way that it is important for whaling fleet San Francisco harbor departed to the United States. The origin and rapid development of whaling in the second quarter of the century was of great importance for the United States. From 1825 to 1845, the total registered whaling tonnage of the American whaling fleet grew from 35 thousand to 191 thousand tons. The vast majority of whalers hunted in the Pacific Ocean, and they needed a convenient base on its coast.

Another problem was the question of the loss of American citizens. American citizens living in Mexico suffered heavy losses as a result of the unrest involving coups and military confiscations. Americans first sought damages through the Mexican courts. Not having achieved a positive result, they appealed to their government. In America, always anxiously treated money issues, and then there was a reason to legally blame Mexico. When peaceful protests failed, the United States threatened war. Then Mexico agreed to transfer the American claims to arbitration. Three-quarters of these claims turned out to be illegal, and in 1841, an international court rejected them, although it awarded Mexico for the rest to pay - in the amount of about 2 million dollars. Mexico paid three installments for this debt, and then stopped payments.

But the more serious problem that spoiled relations between the two countries was Texas. By the middle of the 1830s, the dictatorship of President Antonio Santa Anna and the unrest in Mexico caused the state to be on the verge of collapse - Texas decided to secede. In addition, slavery was abolished in Mexico, and in Texas, immigrants from the United States refused to comply with this law. They also expressed dissatisfaction with the central administration, which is hampering their administration of the territory. As a result, the free state of Texas was created. An attempt by the Mexican army to regain control of Texas led to the battle of San Jacinto 21 on April 1836 between a squad of Texans in 800 and a man led by Sam Houston and twice the largest army of the Mexican president, General Santa Anna. As a result of a surprise attack, almost the entire Mexican army led by Santa Anna was captured. Texans lost only 6 people. As a result, the Mexican president was forced to withdraw Mexican troops from Texas.

Mexico did not recognize the secession of Texas and the clashes continued for almost 10 years and depended on whether the positions of the Mexican government were strengthened or weakened. Washington did not officially intervene in this struggle, although thousands of volunteers in the United States were recruited to help Texans. Most Texans welcomed the accession of the republic to the United States. But the northerners feared that the adoption of another slave-owning state would shift the domestic balance in favor of the South, and therefore delayed the accession of Texas for almost ten years. As a result, in 1845, the United States joined the Republic of Texas and recognized Texas as the 28 state of the united state. Thus, the United States inherited a territorial dispute between Texas and Mexico.

Mexico complained that the United States had intervened in the internal affairs of the country and unreasonably seized its territory by joining its “rebellious province”. In turn, the US government also sought war to secure the result. The pretext was the question of the border of Texas. Mexico, which has never recognized the independence of Texas, declared the Nueces River between Texas and Mexico, which lies about 150 miles east of the Rio Grande. The States, referring to the Velaskie Treaty, declared the Rio Grande River itself the border of Texas. Mexico argued its position that the treaty was signed by General Santa Anna in 1836 year under duress when he was being held captive by Texans, and therefore was invalid. In addition, the Mexicans claimed that Santa Anna did not have the authority to negotiate or sign agreements. The treaty was never ratified by the Mexican government. Mexicans feared that Texas was just the beginning and the Americans would continue their expansion.

For Mexicans, the Texas issue was a matter of national honor and independence. In Mexico City, it has been stated more than once that the annexation of Texas will mean war. In addition, Mexico hoped for help from England. True, the Mexican president, Jose Joaquin de Herrera (1844-1845), was prepared to accept the inevitable, provided that the injured pride of the Mexicans received proper reassurance. However, the Americans themselves did not want peace. In 1844, the president of the United States was James Knox Polk. The Democratic Party, to which the regiment belonged, was a supporter of the annexation of Texas. In addition, the Americans claimed to California. This deserted but rich land seemed to be asking for expansion. In the XVIII century, the wave of Spanish expansion reached its peak and swept California. Then the degradation of the Spanish colonial empire began, and in California there were only a few Creole-landowner families who lived in luxury, owning huge Asienda-estates. They owned huge herds of horses and herds of cattle. And the Mexican government, weakened and virtually bankrupt after the Mexican War of Independence, was experiencing enormous problems in managing its northern territories, which were hundreds of miles from Mexico City. The Mexican government had almost no power in California. From the middle of the 1830, American immigrants began to penetrate into California.

The US government, alarmed by rumors of England’s desire to buy California, decided to offer a deal to Mexico. The regiment planned to offer Mexico to abandon the demand for payment of unsatisfied claims in exchange for establishing an acceptable border between Texas and Mexico, and also wanted to buy California. The Americans also claimed the New Mexico. For California, the United States offered 25 million dollars, for New Mexico - 5 million dollars. The disputed territories between Nueces and Rio Grande should have moved to Texas. Such a deal, as the Americans assured, was beneficial to Mexico, as it gave her the opportunity to pay debts. Herrera told Regiment that he would accept his representative. The regiment immediately appointed John Slidel as envoy to Mexico.

In the meantime, outrage in US policy grew in Mexico. Under these conditions, the country's government, consisting of a party of moderate liberals, led by Herrera did not dare to accept Slidel. Moreover, the Mexican government could not begin negotiations with him due to political unrest in the country. In 1846, only the president of the country changed four times. President Herrera’s military opposition viewed Slidel’s presence in Mexico City as an insult. After the more nationalist government of the Conservatives, led by General Mariano Paredes y Arriillyag, came to power, it reaffirmed its claims to Texas. 12 January Washington received a message from Slidel that the Herrera government had refused to meet him. The regiment considered that the unpaid claims and the expulsion of Slidel were sufficient grounds for war.

How Americans captured half of Mexico

American President James Knox Polk (1845-1849)

War

Simultaneously with the negotiations, the Americans were actively preparing for war. Back in May, 1845, General Zachary Taylor, received a secret order to transfer troops from West Louisiana to Texas. American troops were to occupy the neutral zone between Nueces and Rio Grande, which Texas claimed, but never occupied. Soon, most of the US regular army from 4, thousand people, was stationed at Corpus Christi. Naval squadrons were sent to the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean to block the coast of Mexico. Thus, the US government provoked the war. Washington covered its aggressive goals with the alleged aggression of Mexico. The Americans planned to seize California, New Mexico and Mexico’s main life centers in order to force Mexico City to accept the world on the terms of Washington.

Mexican President Paredes considered the advance of General Taylor’s troops as an invasion of Mexican territory and ordered resistance. 25 April 1846 The Mexican cavalry attacked several American dragoons, and forced them to surrender. Then a few more collisions happened. When news of this reached Washington, the Regiment sent a message to Congress with a declaration of war. The American blood, explained Polk, was spilled on American soil - by this act Mexico caused the war. The joint session of the Congress overwhelmingly approved the declaration of war. Democrats unanimously supported military action. 67 representatives of the Whig party voted against the war when discussing the amendments, but in the last reading only 14 of them were against it. 13 May, the United States declared war on Mexico.

Mexico, with its outdated weapons and a weak army, was doomed to defeat. In terms of population and economic development, the United States exceeded Mexico. The number of the American army at the beginning of the war was 7883 man, and in total during the years of the war the USA armed 100 thousand people. Most of the US Army was made up of volunteers with a 12-month service life. They were eager to war. The possessions of the former Spanish empire have always been a magnet for northerners who “dreamed of feasting in the palaces of Montezuma”. At the beginning of the war, the Mexican army numbered over 23 thousand people and consisted mainly of recruits - Indians and peons (peasants) who were not eager to fight. Gunshot weapon and the artillery of the Mexicans was an outdated sample. Unlike the United States, Mexico almost did not produce its own weapons and practically had no military fleet.

In May, 1846. American troops defeated General Arista. Mexicans could not hold their positions under the fire of American artillery for a long time. 18 May 1846, Taylor crossed the Rio Grande and captured Matamoros. After spending two months in Matamoros and losing several thousand people from dysentery and the measles epidemic, Taylor decided to move south. In early July, from Matamoros, Taylor headed for Monterrey, from which the main road to the capital ran. He stormed Monterrey, who defended General Pedro de Ampudia’s 7-thousand army, and finally settled in Saltillo.


General Zachary Taylor


At the same time, the American fleet captured California with the help of the Americans who lived there. American settlers captured Sonoma and proclaimed the Republic of California. The US fleet 7 July occupied Monterey, July 9 - San Francisco. In early August, the United States captured San Pedro. 13 August US troops captured the capital of California, Los Angeles. Next, the Americans captured the ports of Santa Barbara and San Diego. The population of California in most passed on the American side. 17 August California was annexed to the USA. True, the Mexican partisans recaptured Los Angeles at the end of September.

The Western Army, by Brigadier General Stephen Kearney, was sent to capture New Mexico. He was to make his way from Fort Leavenworth (Missouri) to Santa Fe, and after taking New Mexico, head for the Pacific Coast. In July, 1846, an army of Kearny, 3 numbering thousands of people, with 16 guns, entered New Mexico. 14 August The Western army captured Las Vegas, 16 August - San Miguel, 18 August - the main city of the state of Santa Fe. 22 August issued a decree declaring the whole of New Mexico as part of the United States. Then Kearney with a squad of 300 dragoons moved to the Pacific Ocean. Kearney and Stockton combined their troops and moved to the headquarters of the partisans - Los Angeles. 8-9 On January 1847, they triumphed on the San Gabriel River and on January 10 entered the city. Thus, California was conquered.

In the meantime, another coup took place in the country, Paredes showed a complete inability to wage war and power in Mexico was seized by extreme liberals led by Gomez Farias. They reinstated the 1824 constitution of the year and returned Santa Anna from exile in Cuba, whom many considered the most capable of all Mexican generals. However, Santa Anna only wanted to return power and he was ready for territorial concessions, he led secret negotiations with the Americans. In exchange for the unimpeded passage through the American naval blockade and 30 million dollars, he promised to give the Americans the land for which they claimed. August 16 Santa Anna landed on Veracruz, and on September 14 entered the capital. Santa Anna marched on September in San Luis Potosi, where he was to form an army. The Mexicans convened a liberal congress, which appointed Santa Anna as acting president; Gómez Farias became vice president.

In August and October, the Americans made two unsuccessful attempts to seize the port of Alvarado. November 10 squadron Commodore Matthew Perry took one of the largest Mexican ports on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico - Tampico. The American government, convinced of Taylor’s inability to end the war, replaced him with Winfield Scott. He was supposed to land in Veracruz. And Taylor was ordered to withdraw, leaving the forward position in Saltillo. Taylor retreated, but remained near Saltillo, provoking the enemy to battle.

By January, 1847, the city of Santa Anna gathered 25-thousand. army, funding it through mass confiscations, including church property. At the end of January 1847, the commander-in-chief of the Mexican army, Santa Anna, marched north towards Taylor, who stood with 6 thousand people 18 miles from Saltillo. Upon learning of the approach of Santa Anne, Taylor retreated by ten miles and took a favorable position from Hacienda Buena Vista. The battle took place 22 — February 23 1847, in a narrow mountain pass on the road from San Luis Potosi to Saltillo. Santa Anna threw his excellent cavalry between the US Army and the mountains on the east side of the pass. This site Taylor, incorrectly assessing the nature of the terrain, left unprotected. But if Santa Anna was the best commander, then American artillery literally mowed down the Mexicans. Taylor’s position was ominous, but reinforcements from Saltillo allowed the Americans to regain their lost ground. By nightfall, both armies were at their starting positions. There were three times fewer Americans than Mexicans, and they awaited the continuation of the battle with trepidation. However, Santa Anna decided otherwise. His army, composed of peasant recruits and Indians, did not want to fight. Santa Anna unexpectedly retreated to San Luis Potosi, leaving burning fires to hide the waste. He captured several cannons and two flags, that was enough to demonstrate victory. Losses Taylor's army amounted to killed, wounded and missing 723 man. According to American data, Mexicans have lost over 1500 people killed and wounded. Mexican troops retreated in disarray, the soldiers were dying from hunger and disease, froze.


General Winfield Scott

At this time in Mexico began another distemper. Farias and his supporters - Puros met many difficulties in the capital. The clergy prayed for victory and arranged solemn processions, but did not want to share money. Eventually, Congress allowed the confiscation of 5 million pesos from church property. This caused the resistance of the clergy and the growth of sympathy for the Americans. They say that the invaders may seize Mexico, but they will not touch the church estates. The church took 1,5 million. Pesos, and then the civil war began. Police in Mexico City, which was assembled to defend against the Americans, defended the clergy. Several regiments of Creos revolted against Farias. When Santa Anna arrived at the capital, all parties supported him. And he decided to seize power. Farias expelled. Santa Anna received another 2 million pesos from the church for the promise of immunity in the future and marched east, against Scott's army.

9 March 1847 began the landing of an American landing party three miles south of Veracruz. 29 March, after heavy bombardment, Veracruz was forced to capitulate. Read More Scott moved to the Mexican capital. 17 — 18 April, on the way to Mexico City, in the gorge of Cerro Gordo, the battle of 12 by thousands of soldiers under the command of Santa Anna against the 9-thousandth American army took place. Mexicans took a strong position where the road goes uphill. However, the Scott sappers found a way to bypass the Mexicans from the northern flank, and a squad of Americans pulled guns through the gorges and dense forests, which Santa Anna declared impassable. The Mexican army, attacked from the front and left flank, was cut into pieces, and those who survived fled in disarray along the roads back to Mexico City. The Mexicans lost 1000 — 1200 people were killed and wounded, 3 thousand were captured, including 5 generals. The loss of American troops amounted to 431 man.

22 April, the vanguard of the American army under the command of General Worth occupied the city of Perote, seizing a large number of weapons. 15 May Worth's troops entered the clerical city of Puebla. The city was surrendered without resistance, and American troops were favorably received by clergymen opposed to the liberals in power.


General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna

Ending war

In Mexico City, panic began. Moderados ("moderate", right-wing liberals) and puros, clerics and monarchists all blamed each other for the troubles of Mexico. Everyone was united in the distrust of Santa Anna. There were rumors of his talks with the Americans. They began to ask questions as he broke through the American naval blockade. However, in Mexico there was no person who could lead the people in this situation. Santa Anna recognized the only person who is able to overcome the crisis. Santa Anna began to form a third army and prepare the capital for defense.

In August, Scott left Puebla and the Americans climbed the pass over the snowy summit of Popocatepetla, which overlooks the valley of Mexico City with lakes, fields and estates. In the afternoon of August 9, the bells of the Mekhikan Cathedral notified the population about the approach of the enemy. The Mexican army was waiting for invaders on the isthmus between two lakes, east of the city. The battle began. This time the Mexicans hit the enemy with their courage and tenacity. The quarrels between the parties were forgotten, the Mexicans fought for their homeland. The army already consisted not of recruits, but volunteers, ready to die, but not to give up the capital. And Santa Anna, tirelessly organizing troops, quietly standing under fire at the forefront, recalled his nickname - “Napoleon of the West”. At that moment he was a real national leader.

However, the Americans broke through the defenses of the enemy, using the power of their artillery. 17 August Americans occupied San Augustine. Further, near the village of Contrares, they met with the troops of General Valencia. 20 August Valencia, which did not obey Santa Ana’s order to retreat, was defeated. On the same day, a bloody battle took place near the river Churubusko, defeating General Anaya. Here the Irish Catholics were captured. As part of the Mexican army was the battalion of St. Patrick, it consisted of the Irish Catholic, who left the American army and joined the Mexicans. The Irish were shot as deserters.

23 August was a truce until 7 September and peace negotiations began. General Valencia declared Santa Anna a traitor. Santa Anna, continuing to assure Americans that he is committed to peace, hastily strengthened the defense. The United States demanded to transfer to them more than two thirds of the territory, not counting Texas. Fearing a popular uprising, the Mexican government rejected these conditions.

When the Mexicans rejected the proposals of the United States, the American troops launched a new assault. September 8 Americans launched an assault on the fortified Molino del Rey, which defended 4 thousand people. The number of American troops was 3447 people, but the Americans had twice the artillery. The Mexicans were defeated in this battle. The Americans climbed the heights of Chapultepec and on the evening of September 13 broke into the capital. Santa Anna decided to withdraw its troops from the capital and retreated to Guadalupe. September 14 Americans entered Mexico City. Townspeople revolt. Snipers fired from shelters, and the townspeople threw the invaders with stones. Throughout the day there were bloody street battles. But by morning the city authorities persuaded the townspeople to stop the resistance.

Santa Anna planned to continue the war. He was going to gather fresh troops and cut off Scott's army from the main base in Veracruz. Mexico could go on to guerrilla warfare and hold on indefinitely. Quite a few American troops in such a war had no chance of success. In winter, the squadrons of patriots, as well as semi-gangs, raided the Americans and caused bloody acts of revenge on the part of the invaders. But after the attack of the troops of Santa Anna on the garrison in Puebla ended in failure, the power passed to the supporters of the world - moderados. The President of the Supreme Court, Manuel de la Peña y Peña, became interim president. The solution to the question of peace was given to the Mexican Congress. Santa Anna fled to the mountains, and then went to a new exile, to Jamaica.

A rich part of the population was afraid of the devastating guerrilla war. Landowners and churchmen were afraid that the country would begin a complete anarchy. Half of the northern states were ready to proclaim independence. The Indian tribes in the Yucatan, whom the greed of the white landowners brought to revolt, captured almost the entire peninsula. In such circumstances, the Mexican government decided to go for the world.


Storm Chapultepec. Lithograph by A. J.-B. Bayo by drawing K. Nebel (1851)

Results

Under the threat of renewed hostilities, most of the Mexican congress accepted the conditions of the Americans, and a peace treaty was signed on February 2 in Guadalupe Hidalgo on February 12.

Mexico was forced to cede the USA to Texas, California and the vast, almost uninhabited territory between them. On this territory are now the US states of California, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado and part of Wyoming. Thus, Mexico has lost more than half of the territory. As compensation, Mexico received 15 million dollars, plus the cancellation of unpaid claims. I must say that in the United States at that time there were strong sentiments to occupy the whole of Mexico. But once the contract was concluded, the Regiment decided to accept it. 10 March The 1848 Treaty concluded at Guadalupe Hidalgo was ratified by the US Senate. By the end of July, American troops were withdrawn from Mexico. As a result of the war with Mexico, the United States established its undivided hegemony in North America.

Mexico was devastated and devastated. The country was in full decline. Officials competed in abuse and corruption. The generals were revolting. All roads were teeming with bandits. Indians from Texas and Arizona and no less bloodthirsty Anglo-Saxon gangsters raided the Mexican territories. Indians from the Sierra Gorda devastated the northeastern lands. In the Yucatan, the war of the Indians with the descendants of the whites (Creoles) continued to rage. She claimed half the population of the peninsula. And American politicians and journalists, intoxicated by victories, insistently demanded to push the borders of the American empire all the way to Guatemala. However, the beginning of the American Civil War halted American expansion.

At the start of the 1850, the American government came up with the idea of ​​building a railway along the 32 parallel. Part of the future road was planned through the Mesilla Valley between the rivers Rio Grande, Hila and Colorado. The valley belonged to Mexico and the US envoy to this country, J. Gadsden, was commissioned to buy it. For 10 million. US dollars purchased an area of ​​29400 square. miles The agreement concluded by 30 December 1853 of the year completed the design of the modern southern frontier of the United States.

Mexico, however, began to recover from 1857, when the liberal republic was proclaimed. The new government contributed to the colonization of the vast and sparsely populated northern Mexican states to avoid further territorial losses.
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26 comments
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  1. +1
    April 25 2016 07: 40
    At present: why conquer the country, it is enough to crush with loans and it is yours.
    1. +2
      April 25 2016 09: 34
      Give the reconquista.
    2. +2
      April 25 2016 16: 34
      Quote: igordok
      just crush with loans and she is yours.

      Just put your people
  2. +4
    April 25 2016 07: 46
    The new government promoted the colonization of the vast and sparsely populated northern Mexican states to avoid further territorial losses.... Clever thought comes after ...
  3. +11
    April 25 2016 08: 23
    About the Irish regiment that fought on the side of the Mexicans, the Battle of Monterrey showed the high fighting qualities of the Irish artillery, which repelled several attacks by American troops. Nevertheless, despite the Irish valor, the Mexican command nevertheless capitulated. After the battle of Monterrey, the Irish-manned Mexican army unit grew in number. According to some reports, it brought together up to 700 soldiers and officers, but most historians agree that it numbered 300 people and consisted of two reinforced companies.

    This is how the St. Patrick's Battalion appeared, so named after a Christian saint, especially revered in Ireland and considered the patron saint of this island nation. The Mexicans called the battalion and its soldiers also Los Colorados for the red hair and blush of the Irish soldiers. However, in addition to the Irish, many Germans fought in the battalion - Catholics, and other immigrants from Europe were present, deserting from the American army or voluntarily arrived - the French, Spaniards, Italians, Poles, British, Scots, Swiss. There were also negros - the inhabitants of the southern states of the USA who fled from slavery. At the same time, the actual US citizens were only a few people in the battalion, the rest were immigrants. The battalion was reinforced by deserters from 1-th, 2-th, 3-th and 4-Artillery Regiment, 2-th Dragoons, 2-th, 3-th, 4-th, 5-th, 6-th, 7 th and 8 Infantry Regiments of the American Army.

    The command of the battalion took John Patrick Riley - a twenty-nine-year-old native of Ireland, who, shortly before the war, switched to the Mexican side from the ranks of the American army. John Riley was born in 1817 year in Clifden in County Galway. In the Irish version of his name was Sean O'Reilly. Apparently, he emigrated to North America in 1843, during the famine that affected many counties of Ireland. According to some reports, Riley initially settled in Canada and entered the service in the 66 Berkshire Regiment of the British Army, where he served in an artillery battery and received a sergeant rank. He then moved to the United States in Michigan, where he enlisted in the US Army. Before deserting and moving to the Mexican side, Riley served in the company "K" of the 5 Infantry Regiment of the US Army. According to some reports, in the US Army, Riley was promoted to a short time as a lieutenant. Turning to the side of the Mexican army, he, after the formation of the battalion, "temporarily" (that is, for the duration of the hostilities) was promoted to major of the Mexican army.

    Riley is considered the author of the idea of ​​creating the St. Patrick's Battalion, as well as the developer of the battalion banner. By the way, about the banner. It was a panel of national Irish green. On different versions of the green flag were depicted: a harp crowned with the Mexican coat of arms and a scroll with the inscription “Free Mexican Republic”, under the harp the motto - Erin go Bragh! - “Ireland forever!”; a picture of "Virgin Airy" in the shape of a harp pillar and the signature "Ireland forever!"; silver cross and golden harp. Thus, the Battalion tried to combine Mexican and Irish symbols on the traditional green Irish flag.

    Despite the fact that the battalion, formed on the basis of an artillery battery, was officially considered an infantry, in fact it was artillery, since it was equipped with horse artillery. By the way, in terms of equestrian artillery, he was actually the only Mexican alternative to the American equestrian artillery units. On February 23, 1847, the battalion clashed with the American army at the Battle of Buena Vista. With the help of Mexican infantry, St. Patrick's soldiers attacked American positions, destroying the artillery battery. Several artillery pieces were later captured, which were later used by the Mexican army.
    1. 0
      April 26 2016 01: 48
      Erin Go Bragh!
      Ireland is above all translated from Gaelic ..
  4. +3
    April 25 2016 08: 26
    20 August 1847 began the battle of Churubusco, in which the soldiers of St. Patrick faced the task of defending the positions of the Mexican army from the American assault. The Irish managed to repel three storming of American soldiers. The lack of ammunition demoralized Mexican soldiers. At the same time, when Mexican officers attempted to raise a white flag and surrender the fortifications, they were shot by the Irish. St. Patrick's Legion would have stood to the last drop of blood if the American projectile had not fallen into the powder magazine of the Irish. There was nothing else left but to go on a bayonet attack on the Americans. The latter, using multiple numerical superiority, managed to crush the remnants of the famous division. 35 soldiers of St. Patrick were killed in a bayonet attack, 85 people were injured and captured (among them, the founder of the battalion, Major John Riley, and the commander of the 2 Company, Captain Santiago O'Leary). Another group of 85 soldiers managed to fight off and retreat, after which they were re-formed as part of the Mexican army. In the battle of Churubusco, the American troops lost 1052 man - in many ways, such serious losses were inflicted on them due to the military prowess of the soldiers of St. Patrick.
  5. +1
    April 25 2016 09: 17
    in American historiography, this war is called "Mr. Polk's War"
  6. +6
    April 25 2016 10: 14
    Congratulations to the author on a quality article, a very fascinating description of the little-known war in Russia.

    The result can be made only one - if you do not develop and develop your land, then there are sure to be others that these lands are very useful.
  7. +4
    April 25 2016 10: 15
    Well, Americans can only applaud. The young country has grown a huge and richest territory, and with minimal human losses. War is absolutely normal for the formation of any country.
    Russia also became Russia as a result of wars and the annexation of the conquered territories. No one brought us the Crimea, the Caucasus, Kaliningrad and other territories on a saucer with a golden border. Everything is obtained by the blood and sweat of our great ancestors.
  8. +4
    April 25 2016 10: 22
    it was very interesting to read in the comments about the Irish Regiment)
    "At the same time, when the Mexican officers tried to raise the white flag and surrender the fortification, they were shot by the Irish." laughing
  9. +7
    April 25 2016 11: 15
    A good reason to touch amers in the UN Security Council on the topic of armed annexation ...
  10. +3
    April 25 2016 11: 16
    A gang of looters as a nation and a vulture as a symbol of a nation - in the emblem of the state.
  11. +3
    April 25 2016 12: 00
    This is not a nation - this is a rabble from all over the world, and the very concept of the existence of this "empire" is unnatural to all normal humanity ...
  12. +2
    April 25 2016 14: 15
    Weak corrupt government, internal contradictions, technological backwardness, lack of a unified ideology, as a result, the state almost fell apart, and a stronger neighbor squeezed out a piece of territories.
    1. 0
      April 25 2016 15: 08
      Weak corrupt government, internal contradictions, technological backwardness ..

      And the lack of Colt revolvers.
  13. -1
    April 25 2016 20: 41
    Quote: Thirteenth
    Well, Americans can only applaud. The young country has grown a huge and richest territory, and with minimal human losses. War is absolutely normal for the formation of any country.
    Russia also became Russia as a result of wars and the annexation of the conquered territories. No one brought us the Crimea, the Caucasus, Kaliningrad and other territories on a saucer with a golden border. Everything is obtained by the blood and sweat of our great ancestors.

    With one caveat. This was not an expansion, most of the wars were imposed on us by our Western "partners", as a result of which Russia expanded in territories. I will not say anything about Ermak, because the story is muddy, and the official school version does not explain anything. But Siberia is the territory of Russia.
    1. 0
      April 26 2016 06: 08
      Quote: Orionvit
      This was not an expansion, most of the wars were imposed on us by our Western "partners", as a result of which Russia was growing in territories.


      Not the point.
  14. +1
    April 26 2016 05: 59
    These territories have never belonged to Mexico. These are Spanish colonies. And when Spain lost these colonies, then the Gringos rightly reasoned that these territories were drawn and that they could be taken away. And they took it. But the world is changing. Now in these states there are more than 15 million Mexicans. That is, it turns out that the Mexicans returned these territories to themselves, quiet dad, although they live according to American laws.
    1. 0
      16 October 2016 01: 03
      But these Mexicans do not constitute the majority of the population of these states. In addition, most of them consider themselves to be US patriots.
      1. 0
        16 October 2016 01: 04
        And with the first part of your comment, I fully agree.
  15. -1
    April 26 2016 10: 54
    Let me remind you that behind the Crimean Tatars were the Genoese, to whom the captured Slavs were usually sold as living goods. As for Peter I, it was not he who went to Sweden, but drove Karl all over Russia, until he caught up with him near Poltava. As a result, Finland and the Baltic states went to Russia. The last truth was bought, but true. He built Petersburg on the site of the old Slavic Novgorod settlements. England has always been behind the Caucasian and Central Asian wars and campaigns. It was a struggle with England, and not with the Caucasus, or, for example, the Bukharshim Khanate. There is a special term for this topic - "big game". Who cares may wonder why England has always sought to have control not only over India and Afghanistan, but over all of Central Asia. By the way, why did they kill Griboyedov? The same Poland ceded to Russia after the defeat of Napoleon. So further on the topic. Russia has never deliberately waged aggressive wars, its territory has always been abundant. I have already spoken about Ermak, I don’t know. The topic requires development. So dear, before you minus, learn history.
  16. 0
    April 26 2016 11: 05
    Quote: Oles
    It was not an expansion, most of the wars were imposed on us by our Western "partners", as a result of which Russia expanded in territories
    It turns out that when we won access to the Black and Baltic Seas, did the Western partners impose these wars on us? Strange, the Swedes, Tatars, Turks and the Livonian Order have a slightly different opinion. But Peter the First did not declare war on Sweden, right?

    And the opinion of all Swedes, Turks and the Livonian Order in a compartment with all sorts of Chukhons, I have up to one place.
  17. 0
    April 26 2016 12: 25
    I apologize, I didn’t ask Ukrainians for an opinion on how they relate to the increment of Russian territories? Now it’s clear where the cons are. Well. Now I’ll go outside, I’ll ask. No need to go far, though the answer is known.
  18. 0
    April 26 2016 18: 38
    You pancake historian homegrown got. Nothing that the war with the Swedes has been constantly since the time of Ivan the Terrible, just Peter put an end to this. In the Battle of Narva, Peter was defeated, and so what? Where is Narva and where is Sweden? Doesn't it seem like the guys got in the wrong place? Several overseas. Please do not confuse wars for territory and wars for living space. The latter does not provide for the capture of any areas, but the acquisition of spheres of influence. This applies to access to the Baltic Sea. In general, in the overwhelming majority of wars, Russia fought not because it wanted to, but because neighbors were painfully greyhound already. With Turks, Poles, Livonians, with western, eastern neighbors, and other Swedes. Everyone needed something from Russia, as a result they got the most tomatoes and lost theirs. That is the question. You are pouring dry, scattered facts without understanding the general political situation at that time. Be silent for Ukraine, such a word was learned only at the very end of the 19th century.
  19. -1
    April 26 2016 18: 48
    Quote: Oles
    I apologize, I didn’t ask Ukrainians for their opinion on how they relate to the increment of Russian territories
    Yes, they relate differently. Someone followed Vygovsky, and someone, along with Yu. Baryatinsky, beat Vygovsky. Someone together with Barabash and Pushkar rebelled, someone with Yu. Khmelnitsky sat out. Yes, thanks for recalling another example of expansion. Already does not pull Ruin in any way on peaceful accession. Or is it also not so simple as with Ermak?

    Yes, there was no Ukraine, it was only at school that they showed us a picture of reunification with Russia, with Bogdan Khmelnitsky in the title role. There was a struggle not even for territory, but for spheres of influence between the Commonwealth, the Crimean Khanate and Russia. It so happened that Russia won. Not because there was not enough room for her, but because it was necessary to put the very arrogant neighbors in their place. As a result, the left bank of the Dnieper remained behind Russia, and was called Little Russia.

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