Derek Thompson

Bob, I think the conventional wisdom today is that the Mexican-American War was an extraordinary act of manipulation and aggression by the U.S. I mean, here you have Polk sending Zachary Taylor and American soldiers into contested territory, essentially daring Mexico to fire the first shot, and then running back to the Senate to scream that war has already begun.

Bob, I think the conventional wisdom today is that the Mexican-American War was an extraordinary act of manipulation and aggression by the U.S. I mean, here you have Polk sending Zachary Taylor and American soldiers into contested territory, essentially daring Mexico to fire the first shot, and then running back to the Senate to scream that war has already begun.

What part of this conventional wisdom, this idea of Polk as an imperialist manipulator who used illegitimate power to manufacture a necessary war, what part of that analysis do you think we might get wrong?

What part of this conventional wisdom, this idea of Polk as an imperialist manipulator who used illegitimate power to manufacture a necessary war, what part of that analysis do you think we might get wrong?

What part of this conventional wisdom, this idea of Polk as an imperialist manipulator who used illegitimate power to manufacture a necessary war, what part of that analysis do you think we might get wrong?

Walt, I'd love to know where you stand here, because I can see both sides. On the one hand, it seems very clear that Polk essentially engineered a war by sending Zachary Taylor into a contested area and then using Mexican aggression to tell the Senate that they had to declare a state of war or recognize, I should say, a state of war. On the other hand...

Walt, I'd love to know where you stand here, because I can see both sides. On the one hand, it seems very clear that Polk essentially engineered a war by sending Zachary Taylor into a contested area and then using Mexican aggression to tell the Senate that they had to declare a state of war or recognize, I should say, a state of war. On the other hand...

Walt, I'd love to know where you stand here, because I can see both sides. On the one hand, it seems very clear that Polk essentially engineered a war by sending Zachary Taylor into a contested area and then using Mexican aggression to tell the Senate that they had to declare a state of war or recognize, I should say, a state of war. On the other hand...

Independent Texas had just won a war, a war of independence. Santa Ana had been captured by Sam Houston and had said that Texas could be independent. Mexico refused to ratify that agreement. They refused to pay debts they owed to other countries. They had no ability to really hold on to this vast territory that Mexico City itself couldn't defend with its military.

Independent Texas had just won a war, a war of independence. Santa Ana had been captured by Sam Houston and had said that Texas could be independent. Mexico refused to ratify that agreement. They refused to pay debts they owed to other countries. They had no ability to really hold on to this vast territory that Mexico City itself couldn't defend with its military.

Independent Texas had just won a war, a war of independence. Santa Ana had been captured by Sam Houston and had said that Texas could be independent. Mexico refused to ratify that agreement. They refused to pay debts they owed to other countries. They had no ability to really hold on to this vast territory that Mexico City itself couldn't defend with its military.

And so it was an unstable and declining empire facing a much more competent and rising empire to the north. And when power faces power in this way, it's the more powerful country that always gets its way. How do you feel about the real politic or moral question around the beginning of the Mexico-American War?

And so it was an unstable and declining empire facing a much more competent and rising empire to the north. And when power faces power in this way, it's the more powerful country that always gets its way. How do you feel about the real politic or moral question around the beginning of the Mexico-American War?

And so it was an unstable and declining empire facing a much more competent and rising empire to the north. And when power faces power in this way, it's the more powerful country that always gets its way. How do you feel about the real politic or moral question around the beginning of the Mexico-American War?

So the U.S. attacks Mexico on multiple fronts. Zachary Taylor comes down from the north. Winfield Scott leads an amphibious assault on Veracruz before encircling, capturing Mexico City. And America wins the war in about two years. And the legacy of war with Mexico is really immense. I mean, just from the raw political standpoint, the brigadier general is Zachary Taylor.

So the U.S. attacks Mexico on multiple fronts. Zachary Taylor comes down from the north. Winfield Scott leads an amphibious assault on Veracruz before encircling, capturing Mexico City. And America wins the war in about two years. And the legacy of war with Mexico is really immense. I mean, just from the raw political standpoint, the brigadier general is Zachary Taylor.

So the U.S. attacks Mexico on multiple fronts. Zachary Taylor comes down from the north. Winfield Scott leads an amphibious assault on Veracruz before encircling, capturing Mexico City. And America wins the war in about two years. And the legacy of war with Mexico is really immense. I mean, just from the raw political standpoint, the brigadier general is Zachary Taylor.

Another general is Franklin Pierce. Another general is Ulysses S. Grant. Polk's Secretary of State was James Buchanan at the time. So within two decades, all of those men become elected president. And in fact, besides Abraham Lincoln, every president elected between 1844 and 1876 is played a key role in the Mexican-American War. I mean, that's 32 years.

Another general is Franklin Pierce. Another general is Ulysses S. Grant. Polk's Secretary of State was James Buchanan at the time. So within two decades, all of those men become elected president. And in fact, besides Abraham Lincoln, every president elected between 1844 and 1876 is played a key role in the Mexican-American War. I mean, that's 32 years.

Another general is Franklin Pierce. Another general is Ulysses S. Grant. Polk's Secretary of State was James Buchanan at the time. So within two decades, all of those men become elected president. And in fact, besides Abraham Lincoln, every president elected between 1844 and 1876 is played a key role in the Mexican-American War. I mean, that's 32 years.