Most overlooked American War-Mexican American.

[YuriVII]

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

[Farnan]

I'm going to start with a minor disagreement. I think the Boxer Rebellion was the most overlooked important American War. It began to set in motion the strong US-British relationship (if you read about the conflict you'll see that a lot of the British gained respect for the Americans after the fighting here and started to see us as more respected than many), and afterwards the US was considered one of the Great Powers.

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.

Also it seems too much like the Revolution for the non-history student and thus people focus on the bigger US-British war.

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.

Don't forget Winfield Scott, one of the greatest American generals in history (his element was one of the few successful in the War of 1812, he led the fight in Mexico, and developed the Anaconda Plan which won the Civil War).

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.

More Prusso-Austrian War then one of the ones to take aboriginal lands. Remember both Mexico and the US were post-colonial nations and before the war considered equal in power (the war proved how weak the Mexican Army really was in reality despite paper power).

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.

100% agree.

Note my dividing your post are not counterpoints, just wanted to add stuff and it makes more sense adding at locations rather than all at the end.

And interesting fact, the War in Mexico was actually extended longer than intended due to the Mexican political instability. The US ambassador couldn't find someone able to sign the peace treaty.

[Aurielius]

The short answer as to why the Mexican American War is overlooked is that it does not fit into the 'good guy narrative' view of American History. We wanted their land and we staged the conditions to start one and then prosecuted it until the goals of Manifest Destiny were met. As a beneficiary of the spoils of war, it's hard to complain about the result...but in all honesty it's not American ideals as the founding fathers envisioned in practice.

[Farnan]

The short answer as to why the Mexican American War is overlooked is that it does not fit into the 'good guy narrative' view of American History. We wanted their land and we staged the conditions to start one and then prosecuted it until the goals of Manifest Destiny were met. As a beneficiary of the spoils of war, it's hard to complain about the result...but in all honesty it's not American ideals as the founding fathers envisioned in practice.

I don't know where you went to school, but we learned about the Mexican-American War in every US history class I was in. The textbook also described it as a morally ambiguous war.

I think the reason it stays out of Hollywood is due to the fact it was so one-sided. They either make a movie with the character on the Mexican side, which wouldn't happen due to not wanting to show the hero killing Americans, or they make a movie where the hero's side always wins which would be boring.

[Condottiere 40K]

Both the Boxer Rebellion and the Mexican Wars might not be mentioned in order to minimize diplomatic tensions with a touchy rising super power, and a prickly neighbour.

[DarthShizNit]

We learned more about the Mexican-America War in High School than we did WW1 lol.

[TheDarkKnight]

It is taught, Farnan, but barely. Only in AP US History and some college courses is it discussed in any real detail. I think in the AP class I took it was given a chapter but in the regular US history class it MAYBE got a paragraph.


However, I will agree that Boxer Rebellion is definitely overlooked. I seriously had NO idea that the United States even participated in that war until this year, and I'm in my second year of graduate school. I never learned it, even in the AP class. And I felt quite ashamed that I never read about it in my outside studies.

(There was a Mexican-American War movie within the past 20 years or so, but I think it was shown from the side of the Irish who defected to the Mexicans)

[Dr Zoidberg]

Jeff Shaara wrote a great novel about the war called Gone for Soldiers. It features a young Captain Robert E. Lee, General Winfield Scott, and Santa Anna as the main protagonists. Great historical fiction.

[SLN445]

Could you consider the texan revolution as part of the overarching conflicts with Mexico and there northern neighbours? said revolution seems to get a few movies about it

But yeh the war as a whole can be considered part of American Expansionism and Imperialism, ideas America would rather not put into focus as part of Film or other romanticised media.

[Gromovnik]

There should be more films about it. I mean, America has single handedly defeated communist Mexico, and liberated half of their godless country in the name of democracy and Jaysus. For God's sake, Mexico didn't even respect private property, filthy socialists.

[YuriVII]

Could a mod move this to the VV, I thought I posted it there but I guess I didn't

@Farnan, yes thank you for mentioning the Boxer Rebellion. Point is both of these wars are overlooked and I wanted to know why.

I heard about the movie regarding the San Patricios. Never saw it though. Of course here in Texas everything gets overshadowed by the Texas Revolution. You would think a little more attention would be placed here since we were the main cause of it.

[conon394]

However, I will agree that Boxer Rebellion is definitely overlooked. I seriously had NO idea that the United States even participated in that war until this year, and I'm in my second year of graduate school. I never learned it, even in the AP class. And I felt quite ashamed that I never read about it in my outside studies.

Good god man don't blame your history its your movie viewing range that is the problem Hollywood loved the US in China

The Boxers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/55_Days_at_Peking

The life in the US Asiatic fleet on a river gunboat circa 1920

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_San...les_%28film%29

etc.

You just needed to stop the DVR at TMC more often.

[Aurielius]

@Farnan
The Mexican American war got short shrift in US history classes, low detail and generally as a precursor to the Civil War, focusing more on the young west pointers that later came to fame in the War Between the States. History as it is taught is by and large a product of the decade / age you grew up in...mine was the 50-60's. However even at the academy (Annapolis) we focused more on the tactics / strategy than the morality. My point was that the war was morally ambiguous which surely you would not dispute. We Americans do not like the concept that we fought an aggressive war of conquest and therefor prefer not to dwell on a prime example of such.

[athanaric]

(There was a Mexican-American War movie within the past 20 years or so, but I think it was shown from the side of the Irish who defected to the Mexicans)

Incidentally, I watched that one a month or two ago. It was interesting, I can't comment on its historicity though.

[Condottiere 40K]

How about the Spanish American War? Outside of the Maine and Rough Riders.

[Stavroforos]

How about the Spanish American War? Outside of the Maine and Rough Riders.

In high school we learned about it as a war which newspapers and the media provoked during very corrupt times.

[Erebus Pasha]

Moved to the VV.

[Lord Oda Nobunaga]

The problem I see with the Mexican-American War is was Zachary Taylor as irresponsible as some put him out to be and was Winfield Scott really such a great general that he should replace Zachary Taylor as taking on the main role. From what I understand Winfield Scott had it in with the politicians and I guess you could say that he was a morally ambiguous person. Zachary Taylor on the other hand was not too enthusiastic about the war and he didn't really have it as good with politicians. Regardless Zachary Taylor's successes in Northern Mexico put him out there as an absolute hero and later on he won the election.
But could this be said that it is a case of a successful general being displaced by "the party", such as say when the Soviets got rid of Tukhachevsky as general (difference being that America was a democracy so our Zachary became President).

[IrishBlood]

Well I think the most over looked war by far is the Philippine- American war

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philipp...93American_War

After fighting a short but bloody war against the spanish to 'liberate' their colonial possessions, the US then fights a prolonged and brutal 'police action' to tame what had initially been envisioned as a new 'wild west' for American colonial expansion. The only time I have ever heard it referenced in the modern media was in an episode of boardwalk empire.

This is the movie you guys are referring to; One mans Hero.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120775/

Its a good film, a tad inaccurate though and the ending was far more grim for the real john reilly

In all fairness though, the causualties sustained by US in Mexico were proportionally higher than many of the subsequent war's they fought against inferior foes. Also some of the pitch battles were hard won fights and could have gone either way. Better leadership and organization for the Mexicans could have easily one them the war, or at the very least a far less humiliating stalemate.

When you compare the casualties http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican...93American_War its pretty obvious that the Mexicans, despite their many short comings, gave the American troops a good run for their money.

[Farnan]

Well I think the most over looked war by far is the Philippine- American war

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philipp...93American_War

After fighting a short but bloody war against the spanish to 'liberate' their colonial possessions, the US then fights a prolonged and brutal 'police action' to tame what had initially been envisioned as a new 'wild west' for American colonial expansion. The only time I have ever heard it referenced in the modern media was in an episode of boardwalk empire.

I agree. Was actually about to mention it. Luckily America eventually came to our senses after realizing we were the bad guys and reformed our brutal policies and put the Philippines on the path to independence. Our reforms were so effective that after the Japanese invasion the Philippines launched one of the largest resistance movements with the understanding that US rule would return. And when US forces landed in 1944 they were greeted as liberators. Today the Philippines is one of the most pro-US countries in the world.