Polk’s America | Dr. Jill Anderson

Dr. Jill Anderson | Mexico in Polk's America, the Reality and the Fantasy

Hanging of the San Patricios following the Battle of Chapultepec. Painted in the 1840s by Sam Chamberlain.

August 24, 2021 | 7PM Central

James K. Polk’s controversial invasion Mexico in 1846 resulted in the Mexican Cession. Massive swaths of Mexican territory including California, Arizona, New Mexico, and more were annexed with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo. The American president justified the war as necessary for national defense, but as US troops pushed further into Mexico other justifications arose. Justifications based on prejudices and misconceptions.
 
Dr. Anderson’s presentation, “Mexico in Polk’s America: the Reality and the Fantasy,” will examine the culture of 19th century Mexico and the ways in which the American conception of the country varied from the reality.

This edition of Polk’s America will be presented virtually, with a live Q&A component after the lecture.

Dr. Jill Anderson is a writer, researcher, and activist based in Mexico City. Upon the completion of her PhD from the University of Texas in Austin, she worked at the Casa de los Amigos in Mexico City. As co-founder of Otros Dreams en Acción (ODA), Anderson continues to collaborate with bicultural young adults across Mexico. Author of Los Otros Dreamers (2014) with photographer Nin Solis, she has also published related articles in the US and Mexico.

How to Watch:

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