Presented by Henry Rivera, current Board Member and immediate past Chairman of the Board of Directors of El Rancho de Las Golondrinas.
Henry will deliver a presentation on the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848, which culminated in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. This treaty transferred 55% of Mexico’s territory to the United States, paving the way for the creation of the New Mexico Territory and, ultimately, the State of New Mexico. His remarks will examine the factors that led Mexico to declare war on the United States — despite recognizing the overwhelming odds — and will analyze the political conditions within the United States that cultivated support for military action against Mexico.The lecture will also address pivotal moments in the struggle for Texas independence that led to the War, including the Battle of the Alamo, the massacre at Goliad, and the broader currents of Mexican national sentiment that made war seem unavoidable.
Henry is the immediate past Chairman of the Board of Directors of El Rancho de Las Golondrinas. He is an attorney, a former Commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission, a native New Mexican, and a dedicated student of American history, with particular expertise in the Civil War era. He is a member of the Civil War Roundtable of the District of Columbia, a former director of the Foundation for the National Archives, and a frequent lecturer at El Rancho de Las Golondrinas.