A Glorious Defeat: Mexico and Its War with the United States 1st Edition

by Timothy J. Henderson (Author)

44 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-0809049677

ISBN-10: 0809049678

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The war that was fought between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 was a major event in the history of both countries: it cost Mexico half of its national territory, opened western North America to U.S. expansion, and brought to the surface a host of tensions that led to devastating civil wars in both countries. Among generations of Latin Americans, it helped to cement the image of the United States as an arrogant, aggressive, and imperialist nation, poisoning relations between a young America and its southern neighbors.

In contrast to many current books, which treat the war as a fundamentally American experience, Timothy J. Henderson's A Glorious Defeat offers a fresh perspective by looking closely at the Mexican side of the equation. He examines the tremendous inequalities of Mexican society and provides a greater understanding of the intense factionalism and political paralysis leading up to and through the war. Also touching on a range of topics from culture and ethnicity to religion and geography, this comprehensive yet concise narrative humanizes the conflict and serves as the perfect introduction for new readers of Mexican history.

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Editorial Reviews

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"Lively, objective and highly accurate.” ―The Dallas Morning News

“Fascinating. This unique contribution to the literature of the era is perfectly suitable to general readers.” ―Brad Hooper, Booklist"

"This pithy, searching account of why Mexico went to war with the United States, knowing that to do so meant almost certain defeat, is sure to empower specialists and new readers of Mexican history alike. Equally important, the volume demonstrates the War's critical role as a catalyst in plunging both nations into bitter civil wars and poisoning future relations between them. Pulling few punches in his assessment of American power and hubris, Henderson contributes meaningfully to a future collaboration among neighbors based on greater understanding and mutual respect.” ―Gilbert M. Joseph, Farnam Professor of History and International Studies, Yale University

“A terrific book. In a concise and readable historical narrative, Henderson lays bare the causes for this war that reflects so much about the two countries and relations between them. His book is almost as much about the present as it is about the past.” ―Sam Quinones, journalist and author of True Tales From Another Mexico

About the Author

Timothy J. Henderson is an associate professor of history at Auburn University, Montgomery, and the author of several books on Mexican history, including the The Mexican Wars for Independence.

Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Hill and Wang; 1st edition (May 13, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0809049678
ISBN-13: 978-0809049677
Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 0.6 x 8.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 44 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #208,133 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #131 in Books > Textbooks > Humanities > History > Latin America
- #213 in Books > History > Americas > Mexico
- #441 in Books > Textbooks > Humanities > History > Military

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Jim C

Thought Provoking and Highly Recommended

June 1, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This is a really thoughtful history book. Why did the US win this war? Before I read this book, I would answer, because the US military was better. After reading this book, I would change that answer.

This is not a book talking about the heroics about the American officers who would later participate in the civil war - or the battles. Instead, this book is a study about the political and social systems of Mexico and how that effected Mexican policy on Texas - and on how Mexico was (un)able to project power.

There are so many nuggets of information in this book. They include how Scott prevented a guerrilla war on American supply lines on the march to Mexico City by discipline and respect to the Catholic church - which is remarkable considering the racism and jingoism of American policy in the 1830's. Another example is the books discussion of the forces driving the American peace negations and why the southern slave state politicians ultimately supported the peace treaty with Mexico. After reading this book, you will be much wiser.

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MichaelBuffalo

Good Political History

March 17, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This is an excellent book for the reader interested in a reasonably short and concise history of the political prelude to and major events of the United States / Mexico war in the late 1840s. The writing is generally excellent, though this short history could have been shorter. More and better maps would have been helpful, so if you read this book, keep an atlas nearby.
One of the things I liked about this book is it did not dwell on the details of the battles. The author did try to maintain some objectivity, being equally critical of Mexico's political ineptness and the US's "manifest destiny." The author provides the reader sufficient information and latitude to form an independent take on this war.

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Bogenbroom

A weak country, knowing it was weak, had to fight.

September 1, 2016

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This was a very interesting book. There are a lot of times in history where it seems like something should not have happened, and yet was inevitable. This book explains in a captivating manner how the war with Mexico was one of those cases. Mexico was very weak, and didn't even have control over all of its own people. It definitely didn't have control over most of the land that the US wanted to take. But a Mexican government that didn't attempt to defend its land from American occupation probably would have been despised, and so they really had to fight. It's interesting how a position of weakness would force a weak country to fight a strong country, but this book illustrates how that can be.

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Bike Mike

Great Book About Mexico and the US

July 15, 2018

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This book helped me understand how interconnected all the events of the American Invasion of Mexico or the Mexican American War (depending on which side of the border you are on) are connected. Wonderfully written and it connects a lot of dots that were missing for me in how Mexico and Texas played a pivotal role in the eventual American Civil War. I recently visited Chapultepec and saw where the Americans under Winfield Scott took Mexico City and how Pickett, who would feature prominently at Gettysburg, became a hero by being the first US commander to reach the top of that daunting hill. This book does a great job of tying all the pieces together and is an incredibly balanced historical view of how these nation's destinies are intwined. Very good book.

A Glorious Defeat: Mexico and Its War with the United States

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Leonard J. Wilson

The Mexican War from the Mexican Viewpoint

July 28, 2010

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

A Glorious Defeat, by Auburn University historian Timothy Henderson, is a history of the Mexican War of 1846-48 told from the Mexican point of view. This is not to say that the author seeks to support or justify the Mexican side in the war. Indeed, Professor Henderson states in the preface that with regard to blame for the war, the two sides have plenty to share.

This is the third book on the Mexican War that I've read and reviewed on Amazon.com. (The other two were Robert Merry's A Country of Vast Designs and John Eisenhower's So Far from God.) I added Henderson's book to my reading list specifically because it presented the war from the Mexican viewpoint; Merry presented the geopolitical and domestic situations facing President Polk; Eisenhower presented the battlefield history of the war with a focus on the US commanders, Generals Winfield Scott and Zachary Taylor. Henderson presents the Mexican side of the war from an internal political and a diplomatic perspective rather than a military history. In this sense, he provided an excellent counter-point to my two previous sources.

Mexico in the early 1800s was divided across many demographic dimensions. Ethnically, it was divided among those of European descent, Indians, and those of mixed parentage, the fastest growing group. Unlike the English settlers to the north, the Spanish settlers brought few European women with them and took Indian wives, resulting in a large population of mixed parentage. Economically, the upper (European) classes were far wealthier than the poorest (Indian) classes. This economic gap was far larger than that between the richest and poorest in English-speaking North America.

Politically, the divide took on two dimensions. Centralizers, who sought a strong, central government at the expense of the individual Mexican states and territories, were opposed by Federalists whose first loyalty was regional. Conservatives, including monarchists, ardent supporters of the Catholic Church, and the economic upper classes, were opposed by Liberals, who included democrats, secularists, and the less wealthy.

In 1846, Mexico had been independent from Spain for only about 25 years. The first Mexican government was an empire that lasted only a year or two. Following that, it was a republic ruled by rapidly changing presidents, none of whom served a complete term. Most presidents were military leaders who were installed in office by military force. Many new presidents brought with them new constitutions which ranged from liberal and inclusive to autocratic and exclusive. In many respects, Mexican politics and government during this era remind me of the last century of the Roman Republic. (See Tom Holland's Rubicon.)

Professor Henderson's conclusions are that that Mexico went to war knowing that it had no chance of victory. The Mexican army was top heavy with generals whose careers were advanced by their political skills and whose military skills were minimal. The common soldiers were largely unwilling conscripts who had no loyalty to their leaders. Support for the war was largely confined to the upper economic / European classes. The political divisions within these classes were so strong that any potential leader who favored a negotiated settlement would be labeled at traitor by his opponents.

The prime representative of this class of leaders was Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, self-styled Napoleon of the Western Hemisphere, who served as president or military dictator eleven separate times interspersed with several internal and foreign exiles. His most successful campaign was the defeat of a French force which landed at Veracruz in 1838 to enforce financial claims. In the ensuing battle, Santa Anna was severely wounded in the leg which was amputated. At the victorious commander's decree, the severed leg was buried with full military honors in a specially constructed mausoleum in Mexico City.

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Not only is this book a very useful guide to Mexican history and that of the Mexican-American ...

January 11, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Not only is this book a very useful guide to Mexican history and that of the Mexican-American war, but T. Henderson is an excellent writer keeping perfect pace and filling his story with interesting sub-plots that illuminate this fascinating and sometimes sad historical event. I highly recommend it to anyone who longs for the truth about American expansionism and the failings of so many Mexican regimes.

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