Historical Crisis Committee VMUN 2016 Background Guide 1 VANCOUVER MODEL UNITED NATIONS the fifteenth annual conference | January 22-24, 2016
Dear Delegates,
My name is Arjun Mehta and I am thrilled to be serving as Director of the Historical Crisis Committee. I am currently in Grade 11 at St. Jake Hauser George’s School in Vancouver, and VMUN 2016 will be my twelfth Secretary-General Model UN conference. I, along with your Chair, Reza, and your Crisis Staffers, Steve and Callum, have put a great deal of effort into planning this multi-faceted committee (this backgrounder is a product of that!).
Jason Liu The HCC is perhaps the most unique committee offered at VMUN. Director-General Like the Joint-Crisis-Committees (JCC), the HCC is fast-paced and uses directives rather than resolution papers (refer to HCC Rules of Andrew Tsai Procedure). What is exclusive to HCC, however, is that this single-bloc Chief of Staff committee travels back in time to the beginning of a significant conflict, giving you, the delegates, a chance to re-write and re-live history.
The topic I have chosen for this year’s HCC is the Mexican-American Claudia Wang War, beginning in 1846. This rich geopolitical war was fought valiantly, USG General Assemblies but today, it is often forgotten. Representing ministers, secretaries and members of the patriotic Mexican cabinet, you will respond to crises, Chris Pang uphold national security, and sustain national pride, all only with access USG Committees to the resources available during the said period.
Alvin Tsuei To best prepare yourself for the conference, I encourage you to read this USG Delegate Affairs 1 backgrounder thoroughly, do some of your own historical research, and, importantly, acquaint yourselves with the real-world implications of this Eva Zhang great war. For a fun (albeit a somewhat historically inaccurate) account USG Delegate Affairs 2 of a portion of the Mexican-American War, I would suggest watching the legendary film, The Mask of Zorro (1974). If anything, the film will Ashley Ng give you an idea of what technologies were available during the time USG Conference period.
Evan Johnson Please note that within this backgrounder, the outcomes of the Mexican- USG Finance American War are not discussed. This was intentionally left out so that you as a committee do not feel obligated to follow history point by Isabelle Cheng point— after all, this is your opportunity to re-write history. Please USG Sponsorship briefly familiarize yourselves on the said outcomes.
Sunny Cui Should you have any questions regarding the structure of the committee USG Marketing or the historical conflict itself, please feel free to contact me. I wish you all the best during these tumultuous times and look forward to meeting you in Mexico City in January of 1846.
Sincerely,
Arjun Mehta Director, Historical Crisis Committee | VMUN 2016
Historical Crisis Committee VMUN 2016 Background Guide 2 Historical Crisis Committee Position Paper Policy
What is a Position Paper?
A position paper is a brief overview of a country’s stance on the topics being discussed by a particular committee. Though there is no specific format the position paper must follow, it should include a description of your positions your country holds on the issues on the agenda, relevant actions that your country has taken, and potential solutions that your country would support.
At Vancouver Model United Nations, delegates should write a position paper for each of the committee’s topics. Each position paper should not exceed one page, and should all be combined into a single document per delegate.
For the Historical Crisis Committee, position papers are mandatory, especially for a delegate to be considered for an award.
Formatting
Position papers should: — Include the name of the delegate, his/her country, and the committee — Be in a standard font (e.g. Times New Roman) with a 12-point font size and 1-inch document margins — Not include illustrations, diagrams, decorations, national symbols, watermarks, or page borders — Include citations and a bibliography, in any format, giving due credit to the sources used in research (not included in the 1-page limit)
Due Dates and Submission Procedure
Position papers for this committee must be submitted by midnight on January 8th, 2016.
Once your position paper is complete, please save the file as your last name, your first name and send it as an attachment in an email, to your committee’s email address, with the subject heading as your last name, your first name — Position Paper. Please do not add any other attachments to the email or write anything else in the body.
Both your position papers should be combined into a single PDF or Word document file; position papers submitted in another format will not be accepted.
Each position paper will be manually reviewed and considered for the Best Position Paper award.
The email address for this committee is [email protected].
Historical Crisis Committee VMUN 2016 Background Guide 3
Table of Contents
The Mexican-American War (1846-48) ...... 5 Overview ...... 5 Timeline ...... 5 Historical Analysis ...... 6 Spanish Conquest of the Aztec Empire (1519-1521) ...... 6 Colonial Period (1521-1821) ...... 6 Independence from Spain: a young, chaotic Mexico ...... 8 Unstable government and economy ...... 8 The fight for Texas ...... 8 The United States ...... 9 Current Situation ...... 11 Discussion Questions ...... 12 Cabinet Position Portfolios ...... 13 Additional Sources ...... 14 References ...... 15
Historical Crisis Committee VMUN 2016 Background Guide 4 Historical Crisis Committee The Mexican-American War (1846-48)
Overview
The Mexican-American War is perhaps the single most overlooked geopolitical conflict that has taken place in North America. Fought between Mexico and the United States from 1846 to 1848, this laborious campaign ultimately shaped the borders of Southern North America, and left a distinct cultural legacy in both countries.
While the main two perpetrators were the governments and militaries of Mexico and the United States, the Republic of Texas and the California Republic, achieving independence, albeit short-lived, in 1836 and 1846 respectively, also played a role in the buildup towards the beginnings of the War. Additionally, a fifth party composed of dozens of Native-American tribes fought for land claims across the vast region.
A significant pre-Civil War engagement, both major players faced their own societal challenges. The United States was divided on its stance on slavery, though Mexico had banned it entirely. Unstable governments and incompetent political leaders quickly made matters worse for both sides. Combined with the preexisting geographic, cultural, and social factors, the Mexican-American War proved to be as multi-faceted as it was taxing.
Timeline
1820 — The Viceroyalty of New Spain grants Moses Austin permission to bring 300 American families to Texas, a territory of New Spain.
September 27, 1821 — Mexico wins its independence from Spain after 11 years of war with the oppressive Spanish colonists. Augustín de Iturbide declares himself emperor of the First Mexican Empire.
October 4, 1824 — An 1823 revolt ousts Augustín from power, and a republican constitution is drafted. A new federal republic, the United Mexican States (present official name), is born, with Guadalupe Victoria as the first president.
1821-1846 — The Presidency changes 32 times, with exiles, executions, coup d’état’s and military interventions overthrowing the executive branch of government. The Mexican government is disorganized and chaotic.
May 7, 1833 — Antonio López de Santa Anna, later coined “Napoleon of the West”, a previous war hero, enters office as president.
June 12, 1834 — Santa Anna dissolves Congress. The dictator establishes a conservative, Catholic, centralist government.
March 2, 1836 — Texas declares itself an independent state.
Historical Crisis Committee VMUN 2016 Background Guide 5 March 6, 1836 — Santa Anna and his forces kill nearly 190 Texians and execute approximately 350 Texian prisoners at the Battle of Alamo.
April 21, 1836 — Santa Anna is captured and forced to sign a treaty recognizing Texas’ independence. The Republic of Texas is born.
Historical Analysis
Spanish Conquest of the Aztec Empire (1519-1521)
Prior the 16th century, the only people who occupied Mexico were the indigenous peoples — the Olmec, Toltec, Tenotihuacan, Zapotec, Maya, and Aztec. That said, the Aztecs, who continued to build a vast empire, primarily inhabited central Mexico. In 1519, Hernán Cortés, a Spanish-born conquistador (explorer and soldier), convinced Diego Velázquez, then governor of Cuba, to allow him to lead an army of men on an expedition to Mexico1; however, before Cortés set sail, Velázquez grew wary of the idea and ordered Cortés to cancel the expedition. Being the bold and daring conquistador he was known to be, Cortés ignored Velázquez and finally set sail, keen to find what gold, silver or other riches that lay ahead.
With a fleet of 11 galleons, Cortés landed on Mexico’s east coast, which had only been discovered by Europeans the previous year. Under the command of Cortés were 550 men and 16 European horses, the first of the beasts to gallop the American continent. Shortly after disembarking, Cortés began establishing settlements with the help of some indigenous peoples, with whom the conquistador acted diplomatically. The first of these settlements was Veracruz (present day Veracruz), where the fleet first landed. Eventually, the Aztecs led Cortés to their capitol, Tenochtitlán, a strenuous three-month journey inland. Not long after his arrival, relations between Montezuma, the Aztec leader, and Cortés intensified. In attempt to avoid an uprising, Cortés abducted Montezuma and demanded a ransom from the Aztecs2. During this chaos, Cortés was forced to return to the coast to face Velázquez’s forces, which came to arrest him for embarking on the cancelled expedition. Cortés fought off Velázquez’s forces, but upon his return to Tenochtitlán, he found that the Aztecs had launched an offensive attack to free their leader. The Spanish forces fled the city, only to face great losses. Montezuma was accidentally killed in the violence.
In 1521, Cortés assembled his forces and returned to Tenochtitlán, this time to quell the city. After three months of violence, the last Aztecs were driven out of the city. The Spanish built a new settlement on the ruins of the capitol of the Aztec empire: Mexico City, the new capitol of the conquered land. Throughout the following two years, the indigenous population plummeted, in part due to the devastating effects of smallpox brought by the Europeans, but also because of the inhumane killings by the Spanish forces. It is important to note that not all of the Aztec Empire fell during these three years; the capitol and hierarchy were destroyed, but countless smaller rebellions took place all over the land, each an attempt by the indigenous to fight off the Spanish.
Colonial Period (1521-1821)
The establishment of Mexico City in the fallen center of the Aztec empire represented the beginning of the 300 yearlong colonial period. During this time, more and more Spanish settlers arrived at the newly acquired land, which had been named New Spain. The majority of these nearly 700,000 Spaniards were male. Between the intermarriages of the European men and indigenous women, casual
1 Palfrey, 2007 2 BBC, 2014
Historical Crisis Committee VMUN 2016 Background Guide 6 encounters, and rapes, a mixed race, mestizo, was born, which would eventually grow to compose the majority of Mexico’s population3. Hernán Cortés is believed to have fathered the first mestizo child.
Meanwhile, the Viceroyalty of New Spain was growing in both area and power. The colonies located in present day Central America, Costa Rica, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Mexico became parts of New Spain, though the capitol remained in Mexico City. The viceroy was the highest-ranking official in New Spain, and while he reported to Madrid, he boasted a great deal of autonomy. Above all, however, New Spain was tied to its motherland, Spain, economically.
A mercantilist economic approach in New Spain proved to be successful early on for the Viceroyalty, and so the philosophy continued: raw materials were supplied to Spain, which in turn produced goods to be sold back to the colonies at a profit. After silver, cotton, cocoa, vanilla, cochineal (used to make crimson coloured dyes) and maize (corn) were the most valuable exports native to Mexico1. Maize was especially important, as it was a stable food for the indigenous peoples. The Europeans also introduced new crops to the land such as sugar, wheat, barley, apple, apricot, pear and banana. Livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats and horses were also brought over, and their population boomed after a few years of roaming the countryside. This mercantile economy of course benefited Spain and high-ranking Spanish officials in New Spain, but it did little for the natives back on the western hemisphere.
Even more unknown is the encomienda legal policy, which allowed the Viceroyalty to grant certain numbers of indigenous peoples to those of Spanish blood, whose purposes mainly included hard labour, typically agriculture or mining. Though in many cases this was just a legally sound form of enslavement, the encomienda contract required the grantees to protect the natives working for them, and to be responsible for their welfare4. Unfortunately or fortunately, that often meant overseeing their Christianization and assimilation into European culture. The encomienda policy in many ways was the Spanish take on feudalism5, and led to an even more autonomous society, for better or worse.
Figure 1: This map shows the Viceroyalty’s land (not including Cuba, Puerto Rico, or South and Central America) until signing the Declaration of Independence in 1821.6
As time progressed through the 300-year-old colonial period, the various Viceroys and their officers continued to impose Spanish culture on the indigenous and mestizo populations. The vast majority of the population could not do as they please; they were subjects of the Viceroyalty and of Spain. Ancient
3 Leibsohn & Mundy, 2005 4 Archer, 2012 5 Public Broadcasting Service, 2001 6 Wikimedia, 2015
Historical Crisis Committee VMUN 2016 Background Guide 7 native customs and traditions were curbed in many areas, and laws were put in place to control what crops could be grown, so as to avoid competition for markets in Spain. It did not take long before the indigenous and mestizo peoples began to imagine their own country, one that was not under the political, economic, social and military control of a hegemon.
Independence from Spain: a young, chaotic Mexico
After plotting to revolt against the Spanish colonial government for several months, Miguel Hidalgo, a Mexican Catholic priest, strategically called Mass early in the morning on September 16, 18101 in a town east of Mexico City. The church bells were rung, and some 300 citizens convened to listen to Hidalgo, who urged them to take back their country, ultimately declaring independence (this speech was later called Grito de Dolores). In a matter of hours, Hidalgo had a force of around 25,000 men. Hidalgo became the leader of the rebel force, and, though he was eventually executed by firing squad and decapitated, the fight for independence continued.
The call to arms was heard by thousands of men. Originally, only the natives and mestizo peoples revolted, but many Spanish-born soldiers saw the beauty that was created when Spanish and native cultures mixed, and so they fought to rid their land of the empire. After 11 years of brutal violence, Spain withdrew itself from the entire western hemisphere. The Declaration of Independence was ratified on September 27, 1821. Also worth noting is the independence of Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile and Peru in 1810, 1811, 1815, 1818 and 1821 respectively. Factions within present day Columbia, Ecuador and Bolivia gained independence between 1811 and 1825.
Unstable government and economy
What followed the fall of one empire in Mexico only led to another: the First Mexican Empire reigned a year after the ratification of the Declaration of Independence. The following year, however, in 1823, a revolt against Augustín de Iturbe’s First Mexican Empire led him into exile after he abolished congress. Then, in 1824, Guadalupe Victoria, who became the first President of Mexico, drafted a republican constitution. Between 1824 and April of 1846, the leadership changed 327 times (some held power for multiple terms). In theory, the shift of power to a federal government would have tremendously unified the new country; however, no one leader was in office long enough to make a positive impact. This was in part due to the disputes between liberals and conservatives, the liberals being for federalism and secularism and conservatives for a Roman Catholic republic. Furthermore, the only forward-thinking and beneficial policy change was arguably the abolishment of slavery in 1829 by President Vicente Guerrero, a liberal.
Out of all the heads of state, Antonia López de Santa Anna was a cruel, cunning and spontaneous centralist. Santa Anna held power 8 times, non-consecutively, between 1833 and 18438. With Napoleon Bonaparte as his idol, Santa Anna let nothing stop him from being dictator. Sadly, no leader, not even Santa Anna, could lift Mexico from its seemingly permanent state of bankruptcy.
The fight for Texas
In 1820, before Mexico gained its independence from Spain, the Viceroyalty sought a solution to stop the Tejano native tribes from crossing into New Spain’s southern territories from Texas, a Spanish territory along the United States’ border. These Tejano tribes frequently attacked villages, killing
7 McKeehan, (n.d.) 8 IHA in Philadelphia, 2014
Historical Crisis Committee VMUN 2016 Background Guide 8 hundreds of settlers and stealing livestock. A decision was made in the same year to grant an American businessman, Moses Austin, permission to bring 300 American families to the Spanish territory of Texas9. The Viceroyalty hoped these Americans would grow into a colony of sorts and act as a buffer between the violent Tejano tribes and New Spain’s villages.
In 1821, however, Moses Austin fell ill and passed away before he was able to bring any American families to Texas. Later that year, Mexico gained its independence from Spain. Austin’s son, Stephen Austin, eventually had his father’s grant approved by the new Mexican government, but the terms had changed: not only did the Mexican government hope the Americans would prevent further attacks by the Tejanos, but they decided to tax the families so as to encourage economic development in the area. Austin agreed to the new terms and brought the first 300 families to Texas by 1825.
By 1829, the number of Americans relocating to Texas increased significantly. The idea of starting a new life in Texas, with slaves, appealed to many. As such, the Mexican government increased property taxes and taxes on American commodities, In the same year, President Guerrero of Mexico abolished slavery, a rule that also applied to Texas. The Americans refused to abide by the new regulations, only causing the Mexican government to discontinue all immigration to Texas. Over the next several years, Americans continued relocating to Texas illegally, leading the colony to become more autonomous from the Mexican government.
When Santa Anna rose to power in 1834, the dictator was infuriated with how previous presidents allowed the situation in Texas to grow out of control. Taking matters into his own hands, Santa Anna launched an offensive campaign in which he found himself victorious. Two years later in 1836, Stephen Austin declared the independence of Texas, encouraging his fellow settlers to fight. Three weeks after successfully taking Santa Anna hostage, the cowardly dictator signed a treaty in 1836 recognizing Texas as an independent state10. The United States, Great Britain and France recognized the Republic of Texas officially as a state. Mexico, however, rejected the treaty, citing Santa Anna’s captivity: during the three weeks the dictator was imprisoned, he was ousted from the presidency, meaning he did not have the power to make a decision of national importance on behalf of Mexico11.
The United States
While Mexico was preoccupied with the series of conflict in Texas, the United States was focused on what would later famously be called Manifest Destiny. The mindset, originally credited to John O’Sullivan12, a newspaper editor in 1945, described how it was America’s destiny to divide and conquer land westward.
The purchase of Louisiana in 1803 was the earliest example of manifest destiny, where the United States bought 828,000 square miles of land from France. Then, all attempts were made for the United States to secure land north of the Oregon Territory, but a treaty with the British impeded those efforts; the United States could not expand north of the 49th parallel, a boundary that would eventually become the border between the US and Canada.
Seldom discussed is the series of systematic ethnic cleansing and removal of aboriginal peoples (Native Americans) from their native land across the United States. Congressmen and Senators argued that
9 McKeehan, (n.d.) 10 US Department of State 11 University of South Florida, 2009 12 Cutrer, 2010
Historical Crisis Committee VMUN 2016 Background Guide 9 the natives’ culture would interfere with that of the white-skinned Americans, a rhetorical that gained popularity easily after the Louisiana Purchase.
Moving to its next best option to acquire more land, the United States continued west, eyeing California, then part of Mexico (refer to above map, Figure 2). The sizeable coastline offered a great outlet to the Pacific Ocean, something the US deemed necessary to grow as a major power. California was inhabited largely by Spanish (Mexican) ranchers and, of course, multiple aboriginal groups. Privately contracted armed explorers rode by horse to several settlements in California, namely Santa Clara, as early as 1829. Ranchers and Mexican forces were quick to turn away these devious Americans. In the same year, American Chargé d’Affaires to Mexico Anthony Butler was tasked with negotiating a price for the purchase of Texas and part of California. Described as a “bully” and “scandalous in his conduct”13, Butler attempted to bribe the oppressive Santa Anna. He was later recalled to the United States.
.
Figure 2: This map shows the distribution of land across North America in 1840. After failing to expand north of Oregon, the US attempted to expand “from sea to shining sea”.14
In 1945, James K. Polk became the eleventh President of the United States. Polk truly strived for Manifest Destiny, taking the mindset to heart. In July of the same year, Polk, rather aggressively, began moving soldiers under army officer Zachary Taylor along the disputed border of the Republic of Texas and Mexico15. Within three months, over 3500 US soldiers were strategically stationed at said location, ready to use whatever means necessary to secure the border.
In November of 1845, Polk approached the issue at a different angle, secretly sending John Slidell, an American minister, to Mexico City. Among other things, Slidell was ordered to purchase California
13 Public Broadcasting Service, 2001 14 Public Broadcasting Service, 2006 15 Public Broadcasting Service, 2001
Historical Crisis Committee VMUN 2016 Background Guide 10 and the port of San Francisco from Mexico at whatever price deemed necessary. Ironically, because Slidell was sent in secret and his identity could not be confirmed, the Mexican government did not accept his offer of 25 million dollars.
Failing to acquire California, the United States sought to annex the Republic of Texas more intensely. The Texians welcomed the idea, as it would ensure security from Mexico. The only problem for the United States was that Texas condoned slavery, a topic highly controversial in congress. After lengthy debates in Washington, Texas was annexed by the United States, becoming the 28th state in the union on December 29, 1945.
Not satisfied by the significant addition that was Texas to the country, Polk was prepared to execute the remainder of his plans by force. In March of 1846, after Texas had formally been annexed by the US (see Texas section above), Zachary Taylor was ordered to take his army south of the Rio Grande and into Mexico’s country.
Current Situation
“Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it,” —George Santayana
March 4, 1946
Mexican loyalist scouts have confirmed that an army is marching south, already nearly forty kilometers past the Rio Grande border and into Mexican land. The United States has violated Mexican sovereignty. It would be fair to assume that that army of under four thousand is being led by Zachary Taylor, an American officer with notable experience.
Clearly the United States’ deranged vision of Manifest Destiny has clouded its judgment; their actions thus far have been truly immature. Since the Spanish conquest of this land, Mexican culture has evolved into a thing of beauty. The fusion of European and native architecture, cuisine, art and daily life has created a bold, vibrant Mexico— one that cannot die at this young age. Losing any Mexican land would be a political fiasco, and Mexico would surely lose national pride and moral. The people of this country have fought hard time and time again to rid the land of intruders, and it must do so again if need be.
The lack of respect our neighbors to the north have shown to Mexico is appalling; attacking a young country still in development is immoral. The economy has been in decline, and with the presidency changing thirty-two times in just over a decade, the country is in a state chaos. Our citizens know not which public officials are corrupt or genuine, and our military has yet to be united. The country is in dire need of a responsible, proactive leadership.
The annexation of Texas only three months ago at the end of December (1945) was a catastrophic loss. A man like Santa Anna cannot be allowed to gain power again; that man only gave away Mexican land in attempt to secure his own release. Mexico lacked the resources to respond promptly then, but now, given the immediate threat that is the approaching army, we have no choice but to summon the will to fight a tactical and strategic war. There is no doubt that the American forces will occupy towns in its path and eliminate those who revolt. Though it is too early to tell what objectives Taylor has for his army, nor his orders from President Polk, an army continues to march further into Mexico.
At present, Mexico is in no shape to wage war. With Santa Anna’s abolishing of the legislature in 1834, all power lies within the executive branch of government. More corrupt presidents after Santa Anna have made matters worse, and the Mexican population has little trust for the government. Given that
Historical Crisis Committee VMUN 2016 Background Guide 11 the country is soon to be in a state of war, reestablishing the legislature is not in the nation’s best interest, seeing as it would lengthen the decision-making process. Though it would bring peace of mind to the public, a divided government would not be capable of defending Mexico.
The loss of Texas has cost the nation’s economy greatly. Taxes implemented on American immigrants brought substantial income to the government, but that source is no longer. Because the majority of citizens are already poor enough, they cannot be taxed either, leaving the government in a deficit. Perhaps taking a loan from a foreign country would be the sole way to kick start economic development.
Also concerning is Mexico’s military strength. In total, approximately 32,000 soldiers are available. These men are scattered across the country, and most lack significant training. The infantrymen, of which there are 18,000, are armed with swords and muskets dating the Napoleonic Wars. Needless to say, the Mexican army’s equipment is outdated. The remainder of Mexico’s forces includes cavalry, artillery and engineers, all of who are better versed in their weapons and tactics training. Fortunately, most of the cavalry are already positioned near the border, since that has been the most violent territory in recent years. Moving other southern units would require days if not weeks of marching, depending on the terrain and weather.
At the first available opportunity, the Cabinet of the Mexican Government must assemble together. With a country almost ruined by decades of harsh economic climates and political corruption, the population is divided; civilians are turning on one another in attempt to survive and prosper. To find even a sliver of hope to defend Mexico, the cabinet must act on its own, independent from a president, and unite the country. The Secretaries have no choice but to act diplomatically amongst themselves and fight the common enemy: the United States of America.
It is integral to the future of Mexico that the Cabinet of the Mexican Government respond to the imminent threats diligently and efficiently.
Discussion Questions
How might the cabinet avoid losing power to a corrupt authoritarian figure in the foreseeable future, and retain as much power as possible within the cabinet?
How might Mexico be unified prior to what will be a bloody war, in order to draft volunteers for military or militia service?
How might the continued existence of Mexican culture, esprit and pride be guaranteed during a time of crisis?
How might each Secretary implement a response specific to his or her Secretariat?
What course of action should be taken to assure the continued existence of the Mexican country, geographically, politically and culturally?
Historical Crisis Committee VMUN 2016 Background Guide 12
Cabinet Position Portfolios
The Mexican cabinet forms a portion of the executive branch of government, and will be composed of seventeen Secretaries, each being the highest-ranking official of his or her Secretariat. Secretaries preside over the policies, actions and day-to-day operations of their respective departments, and, using directives (see HCC Rules of Procedure), can have the full powers of their departments at their disposal. Secretaries should arrive at the emergency cabinet meeting (first committee session) well- versed on the specific functions, roles and powers of their Secretariats. See below for a list of cabinet positions and a brief description.
Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Responsible for food security, safety and quality nationwide, as well as farming, livestock-raising and fishing operations. Oversees farming culture, and compensation and treatment of farmers, fishermen and mongers (in association with the Secretary of Labor) .
Secretary of Communications and Transportation Responsible for having communications, namely handwritten or typed letters, delivered between Secretariats and other high-ranking government officials nationally and internationally. Oversees upkeep of public roadways and the movement of persons across borders, both by land and ship.
Secretary of Culture and Media Responsible for safeguarding national heritage, identity and and promoting cultural expression. Oversees content in media and public opinions and demonstrations, and manages policies on censorship.
Secretary of Development Responsible for the upkeep of infrastructure and government facilities. Oversees the national implementation and accessibility of new technologies into industries, the military, and daily life of citizens.
Secretary of Economy and Trade Responsible for managing government finance, and the production and consumption of available resources, goods and services in all industries. Oversees economic policy in regards to tariffs and income, and promotes economic growth in the short and long-terms.
Secretary of Government Responsible for coordinating the efforts of cabinet-level officials and government entities. Negotiates with the legislature, advises the cabinet and implements the cabinet’s agenda. Oversees potential government reform programs or postulations.
Secretary of Population and Health Responsible for surveying the population and their general status and stances on issues. Oversees the safety, health and welfare of citizens nationwide, through strategic programs.
Secretary of Interior Responsible for land management and survey, and aboriginal affairs and reservations. Oversees law enforcement operations nationwide (in association with the Secretary of Justice) and the deployment of Mexican soldiers domestically during peacetime.
Secretary of Information Responsible for the upkeep of the national archives and the dispersal of propaganda across the population. Oversees the collection of intelligence, its analysis, and the contracting of intelligence- gathering assets and agents.
Secretary of Justice Responsible for sustaining public order and maintaining the legal system. Oversees the prosecution of accused criminals, the corrective services, and any legal reform programs. Works in conjunction with the Secretariat of Interior to manage law enforcement operations.
Secretary of Labor Responsible for managing and advocating for the workforce and resolving disputes with the workforce. Oversees the compensation and treatment of laborers, and the administering of related policies.
Secretary of Natural Resources and Water Responsible for the maintenance and protection of natural resources, and the security of water sources nationwide. Oversees the exploitation of natural resources on land, in oceans and in mines.
Secretary of International Affairs Responsible for advocating for national interests oversees and abroad, and for participating in the negotiations of treaties and agreements. Oversees diplomatic duties to promote foreign policy, specifically the political, geographic and cultural relations with other states.
Secretary of Public Education Responsible for keeping the population informed on national and governmental matters. Oversees education policy and works in conjunction with the Secretary of Information to disperse propaganda across the population.
Secretary of War Responsible for coordinating with military and militia forces domestically and abroad, and advocating for soldiers. Advises and communicates with the cabinet in regards to military tactics and strategies, and oversees the drafting campaign to encourage civilians to conscript to the military.
Ambassador to the United States Responsible for representing the cabinet and government of Mexico in the United States, and fulfilling other such diplomatic duties. Works in conjunction with the Secretary of International Affairs to negotiate treaties and formal agreements.
Additional Sources
The Encyclopedia of the Mexican-American War: A Political, Social, and Military History A brilliant work of over one thousand pages. Use the above link to access a Google Books ebook version. Use the search function on the right-hand side menu bar to search for a topic of interest. Pages 407 through 409 are especially interesting seeing as the military equipment of the Mexican army is explained, details that will be very much relevant in committee.
References
Agustin de Iturbide | biography - emperor of Mexico. (2015). Retrieved August 11, 2015, from http://www.britannica.com/biography/Agustin-de-Iturbide
Archer, C. (2012). Hidalgo Y Castillo, Miguel. Retrieved September 6, 2015, from http://search.credoreference.com/content/topic/hidalgo_y_costilla_miguel_1753_1811 Colonial Mexico, Economy. (n.d.). Retrieved August 11, 2015, from http://www.countriesquest.com/north_america/mexico/history/colonial_mexico/economy.htm
Hernando Cortés (1485-1547). (2014). Retrieved August 11, 2015, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/cortes_hernan.shtml
Leibsohn, D., & Mundy, B. (2005). Surveying Mestizaje. Retrieved August 15, 2015, from http://www.smith.edu/vistas/vistas_web/units/surv_mestizaje.htm
List of heads of state of Mexico. (2015, July 31). Retrieved August 16, 2015, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_heads_of_state_of_Mexico
Louisiana Purchase, 1803 - 1801–1829. (2015). Retrieved August 27, 2015, from https://history.s tate.gov/milestones/1801-1829/louisiana-purchase
Manifest Destiny. (2015). Retrieved August 23, 2015, from http://www.ushistory.org/us/29.asp
McKeehan, W. (n.d.). Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Retrieved August 20, 2015, from http://www.tamu.edu/faculty/ccbn/dewitt/santaanna.htm
Merril, T., & Mrio, R. (1996). Mexico - Encomiendas. Retrieved August 12, 2015, from http://countrystudies.us/mexico/7.htm
Mexican-American War. (2015, August 11). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican– American_War
Mexican-American War (1846-1848). (2015). Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/event/Mexican-American-War
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