Contextualization

The Mexican-American War is an important event in the history of both Mexico and the United States. It occurred from 1846 to 1848 and resulted in significant territorial changes. The war was fought over a number of issues, including the border dispute between Texas and Mexico and the expansionist policies of the United States.

The war started with the annexation of Texas by the United States in 1845. Mexico, who had never recognized the independence of Texas, saw this as an act of aggression and declared war on the United States. The conflict quickly escalated and soon involved battles in present-day New Mexico, Arizona, and California.

The war ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which was signed on February 2, 1848. This treaty forced Mexico to cede more than half of its territory to the United States, including what is now California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, and Oklahoma.

Importance of the Mexican-American War

The Mexican-American War has had a profound impact on the history and development of both Mexico and the United States. For the United States, the war fulfilled its "Manifest Destiny" to expand from coast to coast. The acquisition of the vast territories in the west brought the United States into conflict with Native American tribes and set the stage for future conflicts and debates over slavery.

For Mexico, the war led to a loss of territory and national pride. It also exacerbated social and economic problems within the country, contributing to political instability that would last for decades.

Resources

1. The Mexican-American War - History.com
2. The Mexican-American War - PBS
3. The Mexican-American War: Causes, Effects & Results - Learn NC
4. US History: Mexican-American War - Ducksters
5. The Mexican-American War: A History From Beginning to End - Book by Hourly History

Practical Activity

Activity Title: "Exploring the Mexican-American War: A Historical Reenactment"

Objective of the Project:

The objective of this project is to allow students to dive deep into the Mexican-American War, understand its causes, consequences, and the historical context. Students will also learn about the different perspectives of the war from the Mexican and American point of view.

Detailed Description of the Project:

In this project, students will form groups of 3 to 5 members. Each group will be assigned a specific event or battle from the Mexican-American War. Their task is to research and understand their assigned event or battle, create a script for a historical reenactment, and then perform it in front of the class. The reenactment should be a creative representation of the actual event or battle, showcasing the different perspectives, strategies, and outcomes.

Necessary Materials:

1. Internet access for research.
2. Books or other resources related to the Mexican-American War.
3. Materials for creating props and costumes for the reenactment (cardboard, paints, fabric, etc.).
4. A space for rehearsals and the final performance.

Detailed Step-by-Step for Carrying Out the Activity:

1. Research: Each group should start by researching their assigned event or battle. They should use the resources provided and any other sources they find reliable. The research should include the causes of the event or battle, the parties involved, the strategies used, and the outcomes.

2. Script Writing: Based on their research, the group should create a script for their reenactment. The script should include dialogue between the characters involved, descriptions of the actions taking place, and any other necessary information for understanding the event or battle.

3. Rehearsal: Once the script is complete, the group should start rehearsing. They should assign roles to each member and practice their lines and actions. They should also work on creating any necessary props or costumes.

4. Performance: After sufficient rehearsal time, each group will perform their reenactment in front of the class. The performance should be followed by a short discussion where the audience can ask questions and the performing group can explain their choices and actions.

5. Report Writing: After the performance, each group will write a report detailing their research process, their script, and the performance. The report should also discuss the historical significance of their assigned event or battle and what they learned from the project.

Project Deliverables:

Each group will deliver:

1. A report detailing their research process, their script, and the performance. The report should be divided into four main parts: Introduction, Development, Conclusion, and Used Bibliography.

   • Introduction: The students should contextualize the event or battle they were assigned, its relevance to the Mexican-American War, and its real-life application. They should also state the objective of the project.
   • Development: The students should detail the theory behind their assigned event or battle, explain the activity in detail, present the methodology they used in their research and script writing, and finally, present and discuss the results of their performance.
   • Conclusion: The students should revisit the main points of their work, explicitly state the learnings obtained and the conclusions drawn about their assigned event or battle, and finally, mention any possible future work that could be done on the subject.
   • Bibliography: The students should list all the sources they used for their research and script writing.

2. A reenactment performance of their assigned event or battle in front of the class.

The project should take approximately one to two hours per student over a period of one week to complete. The written report will be due one week after the performance. The objective of the written report is to provide a more detailed explanation of their work, their findings, and their reflections on the Mexican-American War and their assigned event or battle.