America's done a lot of wars in its short history and American Hollywood has done a good job in romanticizing them. However there are a few important wars two in particular that never seem to receive any cultural attention. The War of 1812 isn't so popular I think mostly because it featured some embarrassing defeats. Than again it is culturally remembered in the American psyche from its national anthem, the star spangled banner was written by Francis Scott Keye as he watched the British bombardment of Baltimore.
The Mexican-American War however seems completely overlooked, surprising because it had a HHHHUUUUGGGEEEE impact on the course of American history. It featured daring romantic figures like Zachary Taylor who seemed typical of the victorian era and all the Civil War greats like Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant working together as junior officers.
I think it is overlooked because many Americans viewed it as an unjust war. I try not to say this as someone who is anti-war today, though it's easy for me to agree with that line. I use quotes by Abe Lincoln and many of those young Civil War greats who did not seem to be fans of it and saw its as nothing more than a naked war of conquest. This did not fit in with the American idea that it was different than the European Empires whom systematically made aggressive land grabs against weaker nations. Because this view was widespread among contemporary Americans maybe it was swept under the rug. Maybe it also suffered from being forgotten due to the civil war.
In addition to the war being overlooked, it also seems that President Polk is also one of the most overlooked Presidents. Odd considering how much he got done in only one Presidential term. Very influential President who just seems to get swept in with all those seemingly irrelevant Presidents typical of the 19th Century.
Here are some interesting Mexican-American War documentaries I watched I think some people here would enjoy:
and a PBS playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JskC...B761427E3E310F