Mexican War

Mexican War Name Institution Course and Code Professor Date Mexican War Introduction The Mexican-American War was an important conflict in the history of Mexico and the United States of America. Caused by issues of expansionism with specific reference to the annexation of Texas and the belief in Manifest Destiny, the war shifted the political structure of the continent. The outcome was that the United States gained large areas of territory encompassing most of present-day California, Arizona, New Mexico, and other regions after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. They demonstrated the abilities of the American armed forced and led to debates over imperialism, Mexican sovereignty, and the spread of slavery into the acquired territories (Manaut & Deare, 2021). This essay will analyze mission command based on information provided in ADP 6-0 (2019) to identify how this concept impacted the Mexican-American War and its outcome. Mission command, according to the principles stated in the ADP 6-0, is a process where the commanders detail their expectations/requirements and then let subordinates carry out operations on their initiative in line with those requirements (Headquarters, 2019). This military management style of flexibility resulted in the implementation of seven principles: Competence, Mutual Respect, Shared Understanding, Commander’s Intent, Mission Orders, Disciplined Initiative, and Risk Acceptance, which could be seen in the leadership of Americans during the Mexican War. This work posits that the effective implementation of the tenets of mission command among the American troops, as opposed to confusion and disorganization among Mexicans, was the deciding factor in the war. Competence Competence is the first of the seven classical tenets of mission command, upon which military leadership is built. The manner in which military commanders assess and make decisions in the context of a conflict is described (Benson, 2023). General Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott gave a good performance in managing multiplexity in the Mexican-American War. Taylor triumphs at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma with fewer soldiers than Mexicans, they utilized terrain and guns to engage the Mexicans in several ways. With his discipline and cohesion, Taylor was able to keep amongst his troops in the extreme terrain of northern Mexico, which showed not only his mechanical military ability but also his inherent character of leadership. However, more than the competency factor was needed to ensure success. Taylor’s strategy was sometimes criticized for being overcautious, especially in the moments when he did not actively advance against Mexican forces after some initial successes. What followed with Winfield Scott’s further campaign, as well as the forced landing at Veracruz and the march to Mexico City, showed sufficiently the role of efficiency in a major operation. Plan and direction were important factors Scott put into practice, though there was evidence of civilian management over soldiers. The Mexican leadership had severe problems of internal division as well as logistical shortcomings, which were highly evident when compared to Gen Scott, who had been great in strategic planning and was capable of executing set plans (Guiora & Jackson, 2021). This absence of competence within the Mexican command played a major role in their defeat because the Mexican forces could not properly coordinate a defence against the American attack initiatives. Mutual Respect Harassment prevents soldiers from mutual respect, which is significant for creating a fight-effective team. Regarding the Mexican-American war, respect from within the ranks of the American military could clearly be seen in terms of the cooperation between leaders and soldiers, which enabled a greater amount of mobility and adaptability within the force. Taylor and Scott were role models to their generals, officers, and troops; they were able to subdivide the tasks and, thus, even during testing times, keep the drills of the army intact (Sanchez Garcia, 2024). This respect also presided in the interaction between the American military and the political authority, whereby Scott had the discretion to act within the resumed administration of President Polk and simultaneously exercise the independence that is crucial to military operations. However, the war also exposed weaknesses in the principle of mutual respect, especially in relations between the United States forces and the Mexican people. American soldiers often disregarded the Mexicans and quite frequently used abusive language and even used force, which occasionally involved murdering the Mexican civilians, sexually assaulting Mexican women and even looting their property. This was counterproductive to the general strategic direction of establishing a foundation for the attainment of a sustainable and enduring peace the moment a military triumph is achieved. As a result, the Mexican forces seldom reached the level of mutual trust within their formations (Inamete, 2022). Mexican political antagonism and personal enmities among leaders such as President Santa Anna eliminated harmony, essential for a concerted fight against the American invasio...