por What was the battle of Chapultepec?
The Battle of Chapultepec was one of the last confrontations between the Mexican army and the US troops that invaded the country. It took place between September 12 and 13, 1847 and ended with the victory of the US and the subsequent conquest of Mexico City.
It happened on the Chapultepec hill, near Mexico City, where the castle, which was formerly the residence of the viceroys, had become the headquarters of the Military College.
After several years of conflict between the Texan independentistas and Mexico, the country to which Texas belonged, the rebels requested their incorporation into the United States.
Using the Mexican attack on a US patrol on the disputed Texas border as an excuse, the US Congress declared war on its neighbor. In a short time, the Americans reached the surroundings of the Mexican capital. The last obstacle was the Chapultepec Castle, a Military College with 800 men to defend it.
Background
In 1836, Texas declared its independence unilaterally, populated mostly by settlers Americans. Antonio López de Santa Anna, the Mexican president, sent troops and recaptured San Antonio, in the known battle of the Alamo.
The Texans’ counterattack was immediate. At San Jacinto, the Mexican army was defeated and Santa Anna taken prisoner. During his captivity, he signed the Treaty of Velasco, recognizing the independence of Texas and the border on the Rio Grande and the Nueces River.
The Mexican government ignored the signed Treaty, although Texas maintained a situation of de facto independence. On occasion, Mexican troops made raids, but without recovering any of the lost ground.
Incorporation of Texas into the United States
In 1845, Texas applied to join the United States, which was approved by the US Congress.
The US government made an offer to Mexico to buy Alta California and New Mexico, a proposal immediately rejected. The result was the breakdown of diplomatic relations.
The United States acted unilaterally. In 1845 he took San Francisco and, the following year, encouraged the illegal emigration of Mormons to Salt Lake, then in Mexico.
armed clashes
US President James K. Polk decided to send troops to the disputed Texas border between the Rio Grande and the Nueces River. On April 25, 1846, at Rancho de Carricitos, an American patrol was attacked by Mexican soldiers.
This confrontation was used by Polk to request Congress to declare war on Mexico, which happened on May 13, 1846.
At the same time, several insurrections by North American settlers took place in California and New Mexico. They asked to declare independence to apply for their entry into the United States.
Beginning on July 25, 1846, the Americans sent troops to support these insurrections, facing unprepared and poorly equipped Mexican troops, so victory was easy.
The US began to prepare military expeditions to Monterrey and Mexico City, to prevent the Mexicans from organizing themselves and sending reinforcements to the north.
Winfield Scott took the port of Veracruz, to the south, without too much difficulty, and the Mexicans reinforced their defenses on the road that led from Veracruz to Mexico City, thinking that the americans would come that way. But they decided to go the long way.
The US troops surrounded the Sierra de Santa Catarina to the south, colliding with the Mexican army in the battles of Churubusco and Padierna. In fifteen months, US troops arrived at the gates of the capital, revealing the poor defense of the country.
Causes of the Battle of Chapultepec
American expansionism
The United States, since its independence, has always shown great interest in expanding its territories. Not only to the west, but also to the south. At times, it did so by purchasing large pieces of land, such as in Louisiana and Florida from France and Spain, respectively.
This ambition was expressly declared by the first US ambassador to Mexico, Poinsett, who announced his intention to take over Texas. His excuse was that this territory was entered under the Louisiana Purchase conditions.
When Texas asked to join the United States, President Polk sent the army to the border with Mexico, something that caused tensions and armed confrontations.
Political disorganization in Mexico
More than 20 years after independence, Mexico was unable to stabilize politically and administratively. In the days before the war with the United States, internal tensions generated coups d’état and uprisings, which partly prevented preparation for the conflict.
On December 31, 1845, Paredes had triumphed in his armed uprising and was appointed interim president. In January 1846, Yucatán declared its independence and declared itself neutral in the war against the Americans.
The solution Paredes came up with to stop the invasion was to try to turn the country into a monarchy, with a Spanish king. Thus, his supporters proposed Enrique de Borbón, a relative of the Spanish queen.
Immediately, a revolt broke out in Jalisco against that proposal and, shortly after, in the Mexican capital.
Finally, on August 4, he asked for the return of General Santa Anna and to return to the federal system. According to historians, the uncertainty caused by Paredes, his changes of opinion, and his proposals that provoked internal uprisings while the Americans invaded the country, greatly weakened the Mexican position.
development of the battle
On September 12, 1847, American troops had arrived at the gates of Mexico City. The only thing that stood between them was Chapultepec Castle, where the Military College was located.
Before the arrival of the invaders, some works had been carried out to reinforce the defenses.
bombing
Throughout the 12th, the Americans bombarded the defenses and Chapultepec Castle, seeking to weaken their resistance. The shelling continued until 8 a.m., the time of the final assault.
attempted resistance
Despite Nicolás Bravo’s request for reinforcements, the only help sent was the San Blas Battalion.
Santa Anna, who had returned called by President Paredes, was in the area with his men, but misinterpreted the intentions of the Americans and concentrated his forces on the eastern side of the hill, while the attack came from the opposite side.
The Battalion soldiers stood up to the American divisions to their last strength. Only 40 of his 200 men survived the attack and their defeat allowed the invaders to take the position relatively easily.
Taking of the Castle
US forces assaulted the Castle on the 13th from the south and west of the hill. Despite their superior numbers and weapons, they had to fight for hours to conquer it.
The few troops who were inside, young cadets with little training, resisted for as long as they could.
The members of the Second Cadet Company were placed in the eastern zone, while the western zone was defended by the First Company.
The American onslaught did not leave much of a chance for the young defenders, especially when some of the officers were taken prisoner.
Aftermath of the Battle of Chapultepec
Chapultepec surrendered, the Americans quickly headed towards the capital. They first attacked the Belén and San Cosme roads, which were defended ferociously but without success.
Mexican troops concentrated in the capital. That same night, the American guns began to shell.
occupation of the capital
On the night of the 13th, Santa Anna considered it impossible to prevent the fall of Mexico City. He withdrew from the capital and marched with his men to Puebla. His intention was to prevent more supplies from reaching the Americans.
However, he was not able to achieve it. Thus Mexico City was occupied by the Americans.
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
Soon after, US diplomats and what was left of the Mexican government began negotiations. In reality, it was the United States that imposed all the conditions, and Mexico had no choice but to sign them.
In February the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo was signed, which included all US territorial claims.
Through that agreement, the United States annexed Texas, Alta California, New Mexico, and the present-day states of Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. It also seized parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, and Oklahoma.
The war meant for Mexico the loss of 55% of its territory. The only compensation she got was 3 payments and just over 15 million dollars as war expenses.
featured participants
winfield scott
Winfield Scott led the invasion from the south, with about 13,000 men on their march to the capital, while Zachary Taylor it made from the north.
By conquering Chapultepec Castle, he cleared up the last difficulty to take the Mexican capital and end the war.
Nicholas Bravo
At the head of the resisters in Chapultepec Castle was Nicolás Bravo, a hero of independence who became president of the country three times.
He was a renowned soldier who participated in the most important events in the country’s history during the first decades as an independent country.
Children heroes
The battle of Chapultepec had a sad event, which became one of the symbols of Mexico: the so-called Niños Héroes. It was a group of six cadets who died in the confrontation.
The names of the young people, who were between the ages of 12 and 20, were Agustín Melgar, Fernando Montes de Oca, Francisco Márquez, Juan de la Barrera, Juan Escutia and Vicente Suárez.
These cadets, along with 40 others, received the order from Nicolás Bravo to leave the Castle. However, they remained there to help defend the site.
San Blas Battalion
This infantry corps was assigned to defend Chapultepec Castle against the forces Americanssuperior in number.
It had about 400 troops and was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Felipe Santiago Xicoténcatl. Almost all of its members were killed in the battle.
References
History of the Battle of Chapultepec. Retrieved from historia-biografia.com
Carmona Dávila, Doralicia. Battle of Chapultepec. Retrieved from memoriapoliticademexico.org
History of the Battle of Chapultepec Castle. Retrieved from independenciademexico.com.mx