It is understandable that the United States–Mexican War is so poorly known by the American people. It was overshadowed by bigger, bloodier wars such as the Civil War, which followed it by only 13 years, and, of course, by the world wars of this century and America’s longest war, Vietnam. But there are strong reasons for remembrance. The United States war with Mexico was a war close to home; it was controversial, yet it aroused great patriotism in the land; and it was uniquely successful in expanding the nation’s borders, however disquieting that fact may be today among those who view it as a war of pure aggression. Wars of conquest are not as popular today as they once were. Surely, that aspect of the war explains why it has not been forgotten in Mexico, a country that lost almost half of its national territory in the conflict. The war, along with subsequent military interventions by the United States, greatly intensified Mexico’s distrust of its northern neighbor, a distrust that has perhaps subsided but not disappeared in the intervening century and a half.
It is hoped that this volume will assist those on both sides of the long, common border to better understand the conflict. A historical dictionary is particularly apt for such a task, since it is an analysis that neither voices praise nor apportions blame. It is not intended to be a history book to inflame passions but, rather, a straightforward reference work providing the essential facts, figures, and background. It includes numerous entries on participants, not only statesmen and generals but also ordinary persons who distinguished themselves in one way or another. It describes the lay of the land, the cities and states, the rivers and forts, and the many battles that determined the outcome of the war. It summarizes the origins and the conclusion of the war as well as the political and military positions of both sides during the conflict. Events are easier to follow because of the inclusion of a chronology; and those who wish to research further need merely consult the comprehensive if selective bibliography.
It would be hard to find a better team to recall this distant war. Both Paul Clark and Ed Moseley hold Ph.D.s in Latin American history. Clark teaches Latin American studies and U.S. strategic subjects at the Armed Forces Staff College. Moseley teaches history and directs international programs at the University of Alabama. Both authors are former army infantry officers who have lectured and written on the United States–Mexican War. They have recently retraced the campaign routes of the main armies of the war by extensive travel through the Southwest, California, and Mexico. This Historical Dictionary of the United States–Mexican War obviously benefits from that experience and interest and enhances our knowledge of the conflict.
Jon Woronoff
Series Editor