Mexico “shed American blood upon American soil!”: American Nationalism and the Mexican American War

• In Event: 2129 - Section on Comparative-Historical Sociology Refereed Roundtables (1 hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: 8. Race, Ethnicity, and Migration

Abstract

The formation of international borders of modern nation-states is a processual endeavor, involving the interaction of multiple nation-states by way of treaties, purchases, incorporation, and/or the effects of war. What is less understood is the role of nationalism in the formation of international borders. This paper explores the formation of the Mexico – U.S. international border during the Mexican American War and the role of U.S. nationalism in justifying and legitimating the actions of the state. National political elites, the press, and soldiers and the types of nationalism they expressed are examined in order to highlight the differences between the Mexican and American nation as conceptualized by members of the U.S. during the war. Primary and secondary sources are used for identifying dominant cultural narratives and symbols used by U.S. nationalists. In tracing expressions of American nationalism over time and in relation to the border with Mexico, this paper identifies the role and significance of race with popular expressions of U.S. nationalism, and contributes to the understanding of white nationalism in the U.S.

Author

• Jon Williams, University of New Mexico