Course Details
9710: A Wicked War? The US-Mexico Conflict of 1846–48
February 9-12
1:45 PM -
3:15 PM
In-Person
Our mostly forgotten war led to Mexico losing over half its territory and the United States expanding to the Pacific Ocean. This study group will examine the political and economic background of the conflict, what led to it, and the roles of such factors as Texas annexation in 1845, slavery, the Democratic and Whig parties, and Manifest Destiny. Also studied will be key figures such as Presidents Jackson, Tyler, and especially James K. Polk, as well as Congressman Abraham Lincoln, and lesser known figures such as Nicholas Trist. Was it a wicked war? A very young officer in the war, Ulysses S. Grant, thought so. This study group has a high class size capacity.
Class Type: Lecture and Discussion
Class Format: In-Person
Hours of Reading: Less than 1 hour/session
Study Group Leader(s):
Joe BeldenJoe Belden has taught OLLI study groups since 2017. He and his wife live in Mexico part time and he has a Mexican family background. He has served on a number of nonprofit boards and writes regularly for The Daily Yonder and other publications. From 1989 to 2015 he was Deputy Executive Director of the Housing Assistance Council. He also worked at USDA, on Capitol Hill, and for other nonprofits; is the lead author of books on affordable housing and food issues; and is a graduate of the University of Texas-Austin and the Baylor University Law School.