Mexican Army at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma: A Levels of War Analysis
Abstract
The Mexican War drastically altered the borders of the United States (U.S) and Mexico. American historians have largely attributed the stunning defeat of the Mexican Army to the tactical and technological superiority of U.S. forces, but this opinion discounts the significant contribution that Mexican leadership made to Mexico's territorial losses with their mistakes and faulty decision making. Despite the advantages in manpower and familiar terrain, Mexican forces failed to win any major engagements. This study analyzes Mexican efforts across the tactical, operational, and strategic levels of warfare and whether Mexican Army leaders were able to successfully execute complementary efforts across those levels during the opening battles of the Mexican War. This assessment utilizes English and Spanish language sources with the aim of providing a balanced analysis of Mexican actions and operational outcomes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 10, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1210437
Entities
People
- Manuel Alejandro L Vera
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College