On **September 14, 1847**, **U.S. General Winfield Scott** captured **Mexico City**, marking the culmination of his campaign and effectively ending the military phase of the **Mexican-American War**. This decisive victory followed a series of successful battles during Scott's advance from the Gulf of Mexico to the capital.

### Background: The Mexican-American War
The Mexican-American War (1846–1848) was triggered by disputes over the U.S. annexation of Texas and territorial claims in the American Southwest. President **James K. Polk**, driven by the doctrine of **Manifest Destiny**, sought to expand U.S. territory to the Pacific, which brought the country into conflict with Mexico.

By mid-1847, U.S. forces had already achieved significant victories, with General Zachary Taylor securing northern Mexico and General Scott preparing for the final assault on Mexico City.

### The March to Mexico City: Scott’s Campaign
General Scott’s campaign was marked by a string of victories, beginning with the amphibious landing at **Veracruz** in March 1847. After capturing the city, Scott moved inland, defeating Mexican forces at several key battles, including **Cerro Gordo**, **Contreras**, **Churubusco**, and **Chapultepec**.

At **Chapultepec**, a fortified hill guarding the western approach to Mexico City, Scott’s troops faced stiff resistance. The battle became legendary for the bravery of the **Niños Héroes**, six young Mexican cadets who died defending the hill. Despite their valiant efforts, U.S. forces overwhelmed the defenders, opening the way to the Mexican capital.

### The Capture of Mexico City
On **September 14, 1847**, Scott’s army marched into **Mexico City**, encountering little organized resistance as Mexican forces had retreated. The U.S. flag was raised over the **National Palace**, and Scott took control of the city, marking the end of major hostilities in the war. Mexican President **Antonio López de Santa Anna** had already fled the capital.

The fall of Mexico City effectively ended the military phase of the war, leaving negotiations to determine the future of Mexican territories.

### Aftermath: Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The capture of Mexico City put the U.S. in a strong position during the peace negotiations that followed. The war officially ended with the signing of the **Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo** in **1848**. Under the terms of the treaty, Mexico ceded vast territories to the U.S., including present-day **California**, **Nevada**, **Utah**, **Arizona**, and parts of **Colorado**, **New Mexico**, and **Wyoming**. In return, the U.S. paid Mexico **$15 million** and assumed the debts owed to American citizens by Mexico.

### Legacy
The capture of Mexico City was a pivotal moment in U.S. history, marking the expansion of its territory across the continent. The Mexican-American War, however, left deep scars in Mexico, which lost about half of its territory. For the U.S., the war intensified debates over the expansion of slavery into the newly acquired territories, contributing to the growing sectional tensions that would eventually lead to the **American Civil War**.

General Winfield Scott’s campaign remains a key example of military strategy and logistics, with his capture of Mexico City being one of the defining moments of the Mexican-American War.


Today in History. Sept 14, 1847. The Fall of Mexico City: A Turning Point in the Mexican-American War.


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