1846 and the Gulf of Mexico: Expansion, War, and Cultural Resilience

In 1846, the Gulf of Mexico region sat at the heart of geopolitical, economic, and spiritual transformation in North America. With the legacy of the Louisiana Purchase, the unfolding of the Mexican-American War, and the westward movement of the Latter-day Saints, this year marked a turning point for every land touching the Gulf’s waters.

1. The Louisiana Purchase (1803): Foundations of Expansion

The Louisiana Purchase gave the United States control over the Mississippi River and the port of New Orleans—key to Gulf trade. This acquisition laid the groundwork for the annexation of Texas and later claims to Florida and West Florida. It also triggered territorial disputes and opened vast lands for settlement, trade, and military staging.

2. The Mexican-American War (1846–1848): Redrawing the Gulf Map

The war secured the U.S. annexation of Texas and extended its reach along the Gulf through naval blockades and military campaigns, especially in coastal regions like Veracruz. The Rio Grande became the new southern border of Texas, further entrenching U.S. presence along the Gulf.

3. The Mormon Battalion and Latter-day Saint Migration

As Latter-day Saints migrated west, the U.S. recruited over 500 of them into the Mormon Battalion, who marched to the Pacific, strengthening the U.S. military route through northern Mexico. Their march paralleled American territorial expansion from the Mississippi to the Pacific, affecting Indigenous and Mexican territories along the way.

4. Cinco de Mayo: A Cultural Echo of the War

Though it occurred in 1862, Cinco de Mayo resonates as a postscript to the 1846 war. It honors Mexico’s resistance to foreign domination, following the territorial losses inflicted by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. In Gulf regions like Puebla, Veracruz, and Yucatán, this resilience became a rallying cry for national dignity.

5. Territorial Impacts Around the Gulf of Mexico

  • Texas (U.S.): Annexed in 1845, it became a primary battleground of the Mexican-American War. The war extended Texas’s boundary to the Rio Grande, reinforcing its Gulf coastline.
  • Louisiana (U.S.): Became central to Gulf commerce. New Orleans, secured in the Louisiana Purchase, remained vital for trade, cotton, and political power.
  • Mississippi & Alabama (U.S.): Benefited from river and Gulf access for agricultural exports, particularly cotton and sugar.
  • Florida (U.S.): Gained statehood in 1845. As a key Gulf territory, it offered strategic coastal defense and naval projection power during the war.
  • Yucatán Peninsula (Mexico): Politically volatile during this period. Though not a primary battle zone, it faced internal instability and later threats from European powers.
  • Tamaulipas & Veracruz (Mexico): Directly involved in military action. Veracruz was blockaded and attacked, representing a critical U.S. effort to weaken Mexican resistance via its Gulf ports.

6. Summary: One Coast, Many Stories

The Gulf of Mexico in 1846 was a contested, multicultural, and strategic zone where borders shifted, identities were tested, and futures were forged. From the resilience of the Latter-day Saints to the national pride commemorated in Cinco de Mayo, these lands tell a story of determination, transformation, and enduring influence on North America’s soul.

This timeline reflects respect for the Latter-day Saints’ identity, acknowledges the foundational role of the Louisiana Purchase, and honors the enduring cultural meaning of Cinco de Mayo across the Gulf Coast and beyond.

From the Gulf to the Globe: One Continent, One God, One Standard

As I sit here, reflecting on the events of 1846 and everything that happened on this soil that wraps around the Gulf of Mexico, I can’t help but see a bigger picture—one that stretches from the North Pole to the South Pole. This isn’t just about borders. This is about legacy. About who we are as a continent. As children of God. As families raising up the next generation in a world that was carved from covenants, promises, and sacrifices.

The Louisiana Purchase didn’t just expand territory. It opened the door for our ancestors—settlers, soldiers, saints, and sovereign peoples—to move, to act, and to claim stewardship over what is sacred. The Mexican-American War wasn’t just a clash of governments—it left scars, yes—but it also revealed resolve. Out of those ashes came celebrations like Cinco de Mayo, reminders that no matter how much land changes hands, the soul of a people cannot be conquered when they walk with purpose.

I expect more from today’s leaders. I expect **accountability** from those who take oaths and draw checks from the pockets of working families like mine. I expect teachers, politicians, administrators, and officers of the law to lead by example. To show our children what integrity looks like—not just with speeches, but with actions that don’t compromise their character when no one is looking.

We are not divided. We are one. One continent. One people under God. From Nunavut to Patagonia, our bloodlines cross borders. Our prayers rise in different tongues but reach the same heaven. Our youth are watching us—hungry for righteous leadership. If they don’t see it in our streets and schools, where will they learn it?

So teach them. Teach them how to stand tall like Texas in 1846, how to endure like Veracruz under siege, how to walk boldly like the Latter-day Saints headed west, and how to rise again like Mexico did at Puebla. Because it’s not about who won what war. It’s about who still walks in truth today.

“To whom much is given, much is required. And to those who lead, we demand that you earn our trust with every action. You do not work for yourselves. You work for us.”

Let this be a reminder to every public servant: if you’re being paid by the people, you are to serve with honor. We are watching, and so are our children.