S. War With Mexico: A Brief History With Documents By Ernesto Chavez

In the historical analysis, The U.S. War with Mexico A Brief History with Documents, written by Ernesto Chavez provides insight on the events that lead up to the war as well as how the U.S. citizens perceived the Mexican citizens throughout the war. Prior to during and following the Mexican American War, Mexico and her people were critiqued by white Americans throughout the mid to late 1800s. The loss of the war would incur harsher judgement as well as treatment. The U.S. citizens viewed Mexican citizens before, during, and after the conflict through demeaning their culture, racial and economic exclusion. Many U.S. Citizens would distinguish who would be American by pigment and culture alienating Native Mexicans who shared the land with white

under the condition, that the the purchaser must cultivate what he acquires by this title within six years from its acquisition, under the penalty of losing them;... subject to the foregoing condition, shall be one hundred dollars, if it be pasture land; one hundred and fifty dollars, if it be farming land without the facility of irrigation; and two hundred dollars if it can be irrigated.” (Legislature of Coahuila-Texas, pg 51). Many Mexicans would be involved in a system in which any efforts to overcome said system would be thwarted by fees which no other white man would be charged. This legislation was specifically to regulate immigration for settlements in northern states

Citizens would distinguish who would be American by pigment and culture alienating Native Mexicans who shared the land with white settlers literally deeming them aliens or enemies. U.S. felt that any foreigners who were not free white men would not be American. Till this day the issue on what and who makes an American is in question. The idea that being an different pigment other than white would create an economic and social imbalance for those who are xenophobic. The idea of being white mens one is pretty and free. The idea of being a mexican wanting to own land would cost extra fees than the average white american farmer. The idea of how the U.S. citizens viewed the Mexican citizens are completely racists and