I am a proud American and southerner, as well as a student of history. Every sovereign nation needs to operate secure and controlled borders. That said, the view of those borders and how they were established can of course vary greatly depending on which side you are standing on.
The Spanish Empire made landfall in Mexico in 1519, nearing 500 years ago. The conquest of the then Aztec Empire ended in 1521, following a meeting between Hernando Cortez and the Aztec Emperor, Montezuma II.
Much later, during the 1840's, would be the Mexican American War, a precursor and in many ways primary catalyst for the later American Civil War. By that time, the Republic of Texas was populated with American settlers, native peoples of multiple tribes as well as Spaniards and offspring of the colonizing Spanish military and native populations.
Texas was to become a U.S. territory and soon the by far LARGEST state. In 1845, the U.S. annexed Texas, while Mexico still considered the not yet Lone Star State to be its own territory, and refused to recognize the Treaties of Velasco, signed in 1836 by Mexican President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, following his capture by the Texas Army during the Texas Revolution.
At that time, Texas was its own independent country. Most of the Anglos moving to Texas after 1822 were Americans seeking annexation by the United States and relocating there from other southern states. Under Mexican/Spanish rule, Texas had been slave free, but that too was changing, and those supporting U.S. annexation also in the main supported slave holding.
U.S. President James Polk was a Democrat, elected on the platform of expanding U.S. territory to Oregon, California (also Mexican territory at the time) as well as Texas by any means necessary. Texas and the U.S. asserted the border of Texas and Mexico to be the Rio Grande River, while Mexico claimed Nueces River, much further north. President Polk sent a diplomatic mission to Mexico, attempting to purchase Texas, California and everything in between for $25 million (= $778 million in 2023). The Mexican government declined this less than generous offer.
Polk responded by sending 80 American soldiers into the disputed territory between the Rio Grande and Nueces Rivers, and then ignored Mexico's demands to withdraw. Mexican forces interpreted this as an attack, and forced out the U.S. troops on April 25, 1846, a move which caused President Polk to convince Congress to declare war on Mexico.
The Mexican American War would continue through 1848, with Mexican forces far superior in numbers, and in many ways better trained. Even so, the U.S. would win this conflict, and the spoils of this war would be 500,000 square miles of land, including all of Texas, New Mexico, California as well as modern day Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and Utah. The U.S. paid Mexico $15 million and assumed all further citizens’ claims against Mexico.
By later water treaties in 1940, Mexico is entitled to receive 1.5 million acre-feet of water per year off the Colorado River basin. America’s mass damming of the Colorado, to provide water for agriculture, recreation, power generation and potable water supply across seven U.S. states, slowed the water flow of the river which created the Grand Canyon, into a trickle entering Mexico. What was once one of the most green, lush and verdant farm basins in North America became the Baja Desert.
Potentially adding further insult to those environmental and territorial injuries, in the U.S. we celebrate May 5th of each calendar year as Cinco de Mayo – “Mexican Independence Day.”
The actual Mexican Independence Day is September 16th. On that date, Spain recognized Mexican independence in 1810. The date of May 5th is associated with a Mexican battle victory, over forces of the second French Empire in the battle of Puebla City, under command of Napoleon III, attempting to establish an Empire in Mexico in 1862. Mexico won that battle, but the French won that war, capturing Mexico City and ruling the country from 1864-1867.
So, this spring as May 5th approaches, with tensions HIGH AND TIGHT along our Mexican border, let’s at least least try to keep in mind, particularly among Mexicans of indigenous, Aztec and Mayan heritage, as well as several other native American tribes...they had this land first, as well as nearly twice as long under Spanish rule as the entire history of our nation. Another margarita with salt, Por favor, along with those chips and salsa? Happy Taco Tuesday.
