Wars & Treaties, 1815 to 1914Ponsonby, Arthur Ponsonby, Baron
History
Wars & Treaties, 1815 to 1914
Ponsonby, Arthur Ponsonby, Baron
History, Modern -- 19th century; History, Modern -- 20th century; Military history, Modern; Treaties
Course of the War:
The Americans under Taylor invaded Mexico, won battles at Palo Alto
and Resaca and captured Monterey. In 1847 there were more victories,
the Mexicans under Santa Anna being everywhere defeated. The Americans
entered Mexico City on September 14th. After further fighting peace was
proclaimed at Washington in July 1848.
Political Result:
By the _Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo_, February 2, 1848, Mexico ceded
the whole of Texas, New Mexico, and Upper California. The United States
surrendered their other conquests.
Remarks:
So far as Texas was concerned, the political opinion in the United
States was divided, and that division was to become more serious as
time went on. On the other hand, Mexico was a troublesome neighbour,
and has continued ever since to be the cause of disturbance and
dispute.
AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN WAR
1848–1849
Belligerents:
Hungary.
Austria, the Southern Slavs and Russia.
Cause:
The fall of Metternich, who had been the champion of despotism and
reaction throughout Europe, and the revolutionary spirit which ran
through Europe in 1848, created great unrest in the Austro-Hungarian
Empire. The Emperor Ferdinand was weak and worthless, and the Magyars
were determined not to submit to the domination of autocratic rule in
Austria. Jellacic, the Croatian leader, hoped to create a Southern Slav
state: he co-operated with the Austrians in opposition to Hungary, and
was supported by the Czechs of Bohemia.
Occasion:
Finding it impossible to come to terms with the Emperor Ferdinand,
Kossuth, the Hungarian leader, took up an uncompromisingly hostile
attitude. Jellacic marched to Pesth. A revolutionary movement of
sympathy with Hungary broke out in Vienna. The Emperor fled to Olmutz.
Windischgrätz, the Austrian general, marched on Vienna and took
possession in November 1848. Ferdinand abdicated, and Francis Joseph,
his nephew, became Emperor December 2nd. The Hungarians refused to
acknowledge him. There was a rising of Roumanians in Transylvania, and
the whole Hungarian nation was called to arms.
Course of the War:
The Austrians occupied Pesth on January 5, 1849; the Hungarians
withdrew to Debreczin and were defeated at Kapolona on February 26th.
In April the Magyar troops recovered and the Austrians were driven
out of Hungary. On April 19th Hungary was proclaimed an independent
state. Russia intervened to assist Austria, and marched an army across
Galicia. The Hungarians were now confronted with a force three times
the size of their own, and the main army capitulated at Vilagos on
August 13, 1849.
Political Result:
Hungary was completely crushed and subjected to savage punishment by
its conquerors. Every vestige of its old constitutional rights was
extinguished.
Remarks:
In 1860 the old Constitution was restored. In 1867 the Emperor Francis
Joseph was crowned King of Hungary. A responsible ministry was
appointed, and a financial agreement (Ausgleich) made between Austria
and Hungary.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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