About the Show
Program Description
The War That Transformed a Continent
The U.S. Mexican War (1846-1848) tells the dramatic story of a war in which Mexico lost almost half of its national territory to the United States. This national Emmy Award-winning documentary series explores the events surrounding the conflict between two neighboring nations struggling for land, power and identity.
Part One
In the 1820s, Mexico is suffering in the aftermath of a devastating war for independence from Spain. To the north, the United States is expanding its territory at a pace that alarms the Mexican government. Tensions mount when Texas breaks free from Mexico in 1836 and is later annexed by the United States. In 1846, U.S. and Mexican troops clash over a border dispute in Texas, and war explodes. President Polk orders the U.S. Army and Navy to conquer the Mexican territories of New Mexico and California. When Mexico refuses to surrender, Polk turns his attention to Mexico City.
Part Two
Former Mexican President General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna returns from exile to unite Mexico against the U.S. invasion. President Polk decides to open a second front against Mexico and strikes deep into Mexico’s heartland. Santa Anna is unable to turn back the invaders and a dramatic battle for Mexico City ends when the capital finally surrenders on September 14, 1847. A few months later, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is signed, ceding all of the states of th present American Southwest to the United States.
This four-hour series, produced in English and Spanish, is a production of
KERA-Dallas/Fort Worth.
Film Credits
Directed By Written By Senior Producer Produced By Narrated By Edited By Principal Photography |
Music By Sound Design By Principal Researcher Associate Producers Unit Manager Graphic Design |
Series Produced In Association With Once TV, Mexico City
Series Producer
Executive Producer
Sylvia Komatsu
A Production of
Dallas Fort Worth Denton
©1998 North Texas Public Broadcasting
"The U.S.-Mexican War (1846-1848)" Advisers
R. David Edmunds Mario T. García Deena J. González Richard Griswold del Castillo Sam W. Haynes Robert W. Johannsen Robert Ryal Miller |
David M. Pletcher Miguel Soto Ron Tyler Josefina Zoraida Vázquez Jesús Velasco-Márquez David Weber |
Sponsors
The U.S.-Mexican War (1846-1848) and its accompanying educational materials were made possible by grants from the following:
- National Endowment for the Humanities
- The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
- The Meadows Foundation
- Corporation for Public Broadcasting
- Public Broadcasting Service
- Arthur Vining Davis Foundations
- The Summerlee Foundation
- California Council for the Humanities, a state program of the National
- Endowment for the Humanities
- Texas Council for the Humanities, a state program of the National Endowment for the Humanities
- The Priddy Foundation Fund of Communities Foundation of Texas
- Summerfield G. Roberts Foundation
- Houston Endowment Inc.
- The U.S.-Mexico Fund for Culture, a joint initiative of the Bancomer Cultural Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation and Mexico’s National Fund for Culture and the Arts
- The Cecil and Ida Green Foundation
- Carl B. and Florence E. King Foundation
- Still Water Foundation, Inc.
- Dr. & Mrs. Francis McGinnis
- Nevada Humanities Committee, a state program of the National Endowment for the Humanities
- Mr. & Mrs. Jenkins Garrett
- J.A. “Tony” Canales
