Introduction to the Conflict
MEXICO CITY — At the entrance to Mexico City’s largest park lies a towering marble monument to six young military cadets killed in battle. The Niños Héroes — “boy heroes” — died while defending Mexico’s capital during the Mexican-American War, which broke out 179 years ago this week. That conflict may not loom large in the minds of most Americans. But in Mexico, which in defeat was forced to cede more than half of its territory to the U.S., memories of the war and other military quarrels with the nation’s powerful northern neighbor remain deeply felt.
Historical Context
The Mexican-American War is a pivotal event in the history of both countries. The war resulted in the U.S. gaining control of a significant amount of land, including present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and parts of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Wyoming. This loss of territory has had a lasting impact on Mexico, contributing to a sense of nationalistic fervor and resentment towards the United States.
Nationalism Surges in Mexico
Today, Mexico is once again locked in battle with the United States, this time facing an American president who is hurling insults, tariffs, and threatening U.S. drone strikes here. Many see it as just the latest chapter in an age-old tale of U.S. aggression. “In Mexico there’s a perception that the United States is the villain of our story,” said historian Alejandro Rosas. “That’s the narrative you grow up with, it’s what they teach you in school. We’ve been victims of the United States forever.” The Niños Héroes are often viewed as the embodiment of courage, teenagers who fought like men against a northern invader. Their faces have appeared on currency, streets bear their names, children learn about them in school.
Public Sentiment and Reaction
At the white marble monument in Chapultepec Park, which this week was crowded with families enjoying spring break, many stopped to take pictures in front of the monument where the remains of the Niños Heroes are entombed. “It’s unfair,” said Monserrat Martínez Hernández, 20, a college student who snapped selfies alongside her mother, sister, and two cousins. “They already took away half our territory,” she said of the United States. “Now they want to abuse their power again, this time from an economic perspective.” Since Trump took office in January, Mexico has been seized by a wave of nationalistic zeal. On TikTok, users have demanded a boycott of American products, filming themselves pouring Coca Cola down the drain. Companies have embraced the red, green, and white of the Mexican flag in ad campaigns.
Government Response
Leading the way is Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who has both stoked — and benefited from — the surge in national pride. In the face of Trump’s repeated attacks, Sheinbaum has had to walk a thin line, appeasing him enough to try to avert potentially catastrophic tariffs while also showing fellow Mexicans that she is defending national sovereignty. She has cooperated with Trump on several key measures, sending thousands of National Guard troops to fortify the northern border and transferring dozens of suspected cartel members wanted by the U.S. But she has pushed back when possible, suggesting Mexico would retaliate if the Trump administration carried out drone strikes in its territory, pushing a constitutional measure that effectively bans the planting of U.S. GMO corn and recently asking television stations to pull what she called “discriminatory” ads produced by the Trump administration warning against undocumented migration.
Historical Precedents
The history of U.S. antagonism, with its roots in manifest destiny and President Polk’s obsession with territorial expansion, that Mexicans best remember. In 1845, the U.S. annexed Texas, a move Mexico rejected. After Mexican troops attacked U.S. soldiers in Texas on April 25, 1846, the U.S. formally declared war. The 1847 battle over Mexico City is recalled on the U.S. side in the opening line of the Marines’ Hymn: “From the Halls of Montezuma …” This month she marked the anniversary of the sixth-month long U.S. occupation of the port city of Veracruz in 1914. “Mexico is and always will be a great country,” Sheinbaum told a stadium filled with smartly dressed naval officers. “We are neither a protectorate nor a colony of any foreign nation.”
Public Perception of U.S. Actions
At the Niños Héroes monument, Mexicans reflected on that past and possible conflicts — economic ones — looming in the future. Felix de la Rosa, 64, a chemical engineer from the state of Coahuila, which borders Texas, says he visits the monument every time he’s in Mexico City. “As Mexicans, we have to unite for this new battle — which is a trade war,” he said. “But we shouldn’t bow our heads without fighting. I think the boy heroes are a great example, and that is how we should act, with great courage and dignity in the face of this new battle.” But for some, the lesson of history is that Mexico may again suffer the fate of being neighbor to one of the most powerful countries in the world. “The truth is, our country doesn’t have the economic strength they have,” said Gerardo Santos, a 33-year-old businessman. “Our country is weaker, and President Trump knows this and takes advantage of it.” “In the end, the gringos will win again,” he said. “There’s nothing we can do about a man like Trump. The guy is crazy.”
Conclusion
The surge in nationalism in Mexico amid Trump threats reflects a deep-seated perception of the United States as an aggressor. This sentiment is rooted in historical conflicts, including the Mexican-American War and subsequent U.S. interventions in Mexico. As Mexico navigates its current challenges with the U.S., it is drawing on this historical narrative to rally national pride and defend its sovereignty. The outcome of this conflict will depend on the ability of both countries to find common ground and work towards a mutually beneficial relationship.
FAQs
- Q: What is the historical basis for the current surge in nationalism in Mexico?
A: The historical basis is largely rooted in the Mexican-American War and subsequent U.S. interventions in Mexico, which have been perceived as acts of aggression. - Q: How is the Mexican government responding to U.S. threats?
A: The Mexican government, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, is walking a thin line between appeasing the U.S. to avoid tariffs and defending national sovereignty. - Q: What role do the Niños Héroes play in Mexican national identity?
A: The Niños Héroes are seen as the embodiment of courage and national pride, symbolizing the country’s resistance against foreign invasion. - Q: How do ordinary Mexicans view the current conflict with the U.S.?
A: Many Mexicans view the current conflict as another chapter in a long history of U.S. aggression and are calling for national unity in the face of these challenges.
