The Mexican American War Explained

Two hundred years ago, California, Texas, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and New Mexico were all part of Mexico. Then, in less than two years, Mexico lost about half its territory. This is the Mexican-American War explained in stick figures: how Texas broke away, why President James K. Polk wanted California, how Santa Anna played the United States, and what the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo meant for the 80,000 to 100,000 Mexicans who woke up living in a new country. We didn't cross the border. The border crossed us. In this video: The Texas Revolution, the Alamo and the battle of San Jacinto The Nueces Strip and how the war actually started Abraham Lincoln's "Spot Resolutions" The Bear Flag Revolt and the Californios who fought back The San Patricio Battalion: Irish soldiers who fought for Mexico Chapultepec and the Niños Héroes The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and the California Gold Rush What happened to Mexican Americans after 1848 CHAPTERS 0:00 How Mexico lost half its land 0:45 The invitation: Americans in Mexican Texas 2:30 Polk wants California 4:00 Three fronts, one problem 5:45 Santa Anna's comeback 8:00 The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo 9:00 The border crossed them Latino and Latin American history, told in stick figures. New videos every week. Subscribe so you don't miss the next one. #MexicanAmericanWar #LatinoHistory #MexicanHistory