Zachary Taylor (1784-1850)

In which we continue our discussion of America’s war with Mexico.  We cover the military action out west in California & New Mexico, then we talk about a different kind of battle that raged in Congress over something called the Wilmot Proviso.  Finally, we head back down to the Rio Grande and follow along as Zachary Taylor captures Monterrey & then wins the hard-fought Battle of Buena Vista in February 1847.

Zachary Taylor on Old Whitey at Buena Vista.

Our book recommendation for this episode is A Country of Vast Designs: James K Polk, the Mexican War and the Conquest of the American Continent by Robert W Merry.  About this NY Times Bestseller, Publishers Weekly said: “Using a broad spectrum of published and archival sources, Merry depicts Polk as an unabashed expansionist.  His political career was devoted to expanding American power across the continent.  Polk saw the fulfillment of Manifest Destiny as transcending even the festering issue of slavery… Merry makes a strong case that Polk’s America embraced a sweeping vision of national destiny that he fulfilled.  Merry’s conclusion that history turns not on morality but on power, energy and will may be uncomfortable, but he successfully illustrates it.”

Listen to Episode 6: MexicanWarPartSecond