Excerpt
Introduction – A Border in Dispute
In the 1840s, the United States and Mexico were two young nations sharing a long and often tense border. Both had gained independence not too long before—Mexico from Spain in 1821 and the United States from Britain in 1783—and both were still figuring out exactly what kind of countries they wanted to be. But while they were neighbors on a map, they were very different in size, culture, politics, and even how they thought about land.
The United States in the 1840s stretched from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Mississippi River in the middle, and by then it had pushed farther west into lands like Louisiana, Missouri, and Arkansas. Its population was growing quickly, fed by families moving west from crowded cities and immigrants arriving from Ireland, Germany, and other parts of Europe. Towns were turning into cities, and railroads and canals were helping goods and people move faster than ever. Factories in the North were making textiles, tools, and other goods, while farms in the South were producing cotton, tobacco, and rice—often using enslaved labor. The country was expanding rapidly, and many Americans believed it was their destiny to spread across the continent.
Mexico in the 1840s, by contrast, covered a huge amount of land—far more than the United States at that time—but it was much less populated. Mexico stretched from the deserts of California to the jungles of the Yucatán, from the Pacific coast to the Gulf of Mexico. Its northern lands, like what we now know as Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, were vast and rugged. These areas had small towns, scattered ranches, and missions but few big cities. Travel between regions was slow and difficult, and news could take weeks to arrive. In the south, closer to Mexico City, the land was more densely settled, and the capital itself was a lively center of politics, trade, and culture.
The governments of the two nations were also quite different. The United States had a federal system where states had a lot of power to make their own laws. Its leaders were elected—at least among the white male population allowed to vote at the time. Mexico had a republican system as well, but it was less stable. Leaders often disagreed about how much power the central government in Mexico City should have compared to the regions. Political struggles sometimes led to revolts or changes in leadership, which could make the government’s decisions unpredictable.
The two nations also differed in how they approached the land itself. In the United States, the government encouraged settlers to move westward, giving out land or selling it cheaply to those willing to farm or build homes. This expansion often came at the expense of Native American tribes, who were forced from their lands. Mexico, too, had Native peoples living throughout its territory, especially in the north. Some tribes traded with Mexican settlers, while others resisted, leading to conflicts. Mexico’s government was cautious about encouraging too many settlers from the United States to move into its northern lands, fearing they might not follow Mexican laws or customs.
Economically, the United States was building connections between its regions through trade and transportation. Mexico’s economy was more localized—what you could sell in a nearby town mattered more than national markets. The northern regions of Mexico traded with each other and sometimes with American traders, but they were far from Mexico City’s political and economic core. This distance made those territories harder to govern and defend.
Language and culture also played a role in shaping each country’s identity. The United States was primarily English-speaking, though Native languages and other immigrant tongues were heard in many communities. Protestant Christianity was the dominant religion. Mexico was Spanish-speaking, with Catholicism as the central faith, and Spanish culture was blended with rich traditions from Indigenous peoples. In Mexican towns, festivals, music, and food reflected a mix of these influences, creating a vibrant and unique cultural life.
By the 1840s, both nations were aware of each other’s strengths and weaknesses. The United States saw Mexico’s northern territories as vast, underpopulated lands full of potential for farming, ranching, and trade. Mexico saw its northern lands as a valuable but vulnerable part of its country, worth defending but difficult to control from far-off Mexico City. The differences between the two nations—how they governed, how they used land, and how quickly they were growing—were already creating friction along the border.
In the towns and cities along that border, life was shaped by both cultures. Markets might sell goods from both Mexico and the United States. Travelers could hear Spanish, English, and Native languages spoken in the same street. Families might be connected across the border by marriage or trade. At the same time, misunderstandings over laws, customs, and land rights could lead to arguments that sometimes turned violent.
In the 1840s, the United States and Mexico were two young nations sharing a long and often tense border. Both had gained independence not too long before—Mexico from Spain in 1821 and the United States from Britain in 1783—and both were still figuring out exactly what kind of countries they wanted to be. But while they were neighbors on a map, they were very different in size, culture, politics, and even how they thought about land.
The United States in the 1840s stretched from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Mississippi River in the middle, and by then it had pushed farther west into lands like Louisiana, Missouri, and Arkansas. Its population was growing quickly, fed by families moving west from crowded cities and immigrants arriving from Ireland, Germany, and other parts of Europe. Towns were turning into cities, and railroads and canals were helping goods and people move faster than ever. Factories in the North were making textiles, tools, and other goods, while farms in the South were producing cotton, tobacco, and rice—often using enslaved labor. The country was expanding rapidly, and many Americans believed it was their destiny to spread across the continent.
Mexico in the 1840s, by contrast, covered a huge amount of land—far more than the United States at that time—but it was much less populated. Mexico stretched from the deserts of California to the jungles of the Yucatán, from the Pacific coast to the Gulf of Mexico. Its northern lands, like what we now know as Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, were vast and rugged. These areas had small towns, scattered ranches, and missions but few big cities. Travel between regions was slow and difficult, and news could take weeks to arrive. In the south, closer to Mexico City, the land was more densely settled, and the capital itself was a lively center of politics, trade, and culture.
The governments of the two nations were also quite different. The United States had a federal system where states had a lot of power to make their own laws. Its leaders were elected—at least among the white male population allowed to vote at the time. Mexico had a republican system as well, but it was less stable. Leaders often disagreed about how much power the central government in Mexico City should have compared to the regions. Political struggles sometimes led to revolts or changes in leadership, which could make the government’s decisions unpredictable.
The two nations also differed in how they approached the land itself. In the United States, the government encouraged settlers to move westward, giving out land or selling it cheaply to those willing to farm or build homes. This expansion often came at the expense of Native American tribes, who were forced from their lands. Mexico, too, had Native peoples living throughout its territory, especially in the north. Some tribes traded with Mexican settlers, while others resisted, leading to conflicts. Mexico’s government was cautious about encouraging too many settlers from the United States to move into its northern lands, fearing they might not follow Mexican laws or customs.
Economically, the United States was building connections between its regions through trade and transportation. Mexico’s economy was more localized—what you could sell in a nearby town mattered more than national markets. The northern regions of Mexico traded with each other and sometimes with American traders, but they were far from Mexico City’s political and economic core. This distance made those territories harder to govern and defend.
Language and culture also played a role in shaping each country’s identity. The United States was primarily English-speaking, though Native languages and other immigrant tongues were heard in many communities. Protestant Christianity was the dominant religion. Mexico was Spanish-speaking, with Catholicism as the central faith, and Spanish culture was blended with rich traditions from Indigenous peoples. In Mexican towns, festivals, music, and food reflected a mix of these influences, creating a vibrant and unique cultural life.
By the 1840s, both nations were aware of each other’s strengths and weaknesses. The United States saw Mexico’s northern territories as vast, underpopulated lands full of potential for farming, ranching, and trade. Mexico saw its northern lands as a valuable but vulnerable part of its country, worth defending but difficult to control from far-off Mexico City. The differences between the two nations—how they governed, how they used land, and how quickly they were growing—were already creating friction along the border.
In the towns and cities along that border, life was shaped by both cultures. Markets might sell goods from both Mexico and the United States. Travelers could hear Spanish, English, and Native languages spoken in the same street. Families might be connected across the border by marriage or trade. At the same time, misunderstandings over laws, customs, and land rights could lead to arguments that sometimes turned violent.