The Mexican
War had a very important war for the United States of America, because not only was it the
first war to be fought on foreign soil since the nation had gained its independence,
but I was also considered the first
"media" war. The war received some objections because of the slavery issue, but
as a whole gained a great deal of
enthusiasm from Americans. Women also played a role in the war, as the war provided
the nation with the first female
colonel of the Army.
The Mexican War was widely popular in the United States. This can be seen when observing the
enlistment records. In fact the war was fought almost by volunteers alone. The
army grew rapidly from 6,000 men to
over 115,000. (http://www.lnstar.com/mall/texasinfo/mexicow.htm). This excitement for the war came from not only
the fact that it was American’s first foreign war, but the involvement of
the media was well. "The frenzy of excitement
was aroused by newspapers and newly formed technology of lithography.
"(http://www.history.vt.edu/MxAmWar/Teams/Stinchcomb.pdf). The newspaper provided propaganda that helped to
raise the sprits of Americans.
During the time of the Mexican War, women were beginning to push for more rights. The Sennecca Falls
Convention would occur a few years after the start of the war. Therefore women’s
role in the war was very important
towards their drives. Two women were enlisted in the Calvary, Sarah Borginis (
who became the first woman colonel)
and Mrs. Foley. While these women helped the cause by joining along with the husbands
on the battlefield, many
women volunteered their nursing skills during the war. (http://www.post448.org/women.html)
While
the Mexican War may have stirred some conflict because of the issue of slavery, for the most part
it was widely popular back home in America. Being the first foreign and "media"
war, it was a whole new world for
our nation, and showed how the country was developing into what would one day
become a world power. Women
also played an important role in the war.
