The American Occupation of Mexico City in 1847

In September 1847, Mexico City, deserted by its leaders, fell to American forces, marking a bleak chapter in Mexican-American relations. The occupation witnessed brutal public punishments, violence, and a violation of civilian sanctity by American soldiers.

The American Occupation of Mexico City in 1847
The famed Plaza de Santo Domingo in 18th century Mexico City. Work by John Phillips, 1847-1848, Colored lithograph. National Museum of History, Ministry of Culture. INAH. Credit: Fideicomiso Centro Histórico de Ciudad de México

In September 1847, a significant and somber moment in the annals of Mexican history transpired when American forces seized control of Mexico City. This occupation, borne out of the Mexican-American War, represented not just the physical takeover of a city but also a turbulent encounter of cultures and a grim exercise in power dynamics.

The narrative begins with Mexico City's local leadership, feeling the weight of the American invasion, publicly urging resistance fighters to cease combat. A communiqué from the City Council, essentially a cry of desperation, reflected the bleak reality: Mexico City had been abandoned by the highest offices of the land, from the President of the Republic to the Governor of the District.