Smithsonian's History Explorer Resources Related To "Mexican Army Frock Coat"

The Mexican War

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:35:51 GMT

America went to war to gain territory from Mexico and expand the nation's boundary from Texas to California. Students will learn about the Mexican War by first examining its causes, Texas's struggle for independence and the controversial concept of Manifest Destiny in this section of The Price of Freedom: Americans at War, an online exhibition. They will then learn about the war's major events and battles, and the results of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, in which the United States annexed all of the territory that would become the states of the Southwest. A non-flash version of this site is available: The Mexican War.

Conflicting Voices of the Mexican War

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 20:02:27 GMT

This lesson plan outlines topics for short research projects and classroom performances related to the Mexican War. Have students select individuals connected to the Mexican War, perform research, and then interview each other to showcase the disparate views on the motivations behind the War and perspectives on its outcomes. This lesson plan (which includes background information) was produced to accompany the exhibition The Price of Freedom: Americans at War, by the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

West Point in the Making of America Homepage

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 15:29:15 GMT

This website looks at the lives of selected West Point graduates who attended the Academy between 1802 and 1918. Students will also learn about the U.S. Army's major functions in 19th and early 20th century America: building the nation's infrastructure of roads, bridges, canals, and railroads; exploring its territories from the Mississippi to the Pacific; and fighting its wars-the role of the West Pointers in engineering, exploration, and war.

First Person Account: Juan Bautista Vigil y Alarid

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 15:32:49 GMT

Juan Bautista Vigil y Alarid, acting governor of New Mexico, expresses the pain of changing loyalty from Mexico to the United States.

This video is part of the Price of Freedom learning resources package for use with the Conflicting Voices of the Mexican War lesson plan. It was produced to accompany the exhibition The Price of Freedom: Americans at War, by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.