America during the Political Changes in Europe: The Mexican-American War and American Romanticism

The Mexican-American War (1846-1848)

Right around the time that many ethnic groups were beginning to have strong, nationalistic emotions in Europe that would lead to revolution, the United States was having a similar experience. America was gaining strength and went to war against Mexico in attempt to expand their territory. This bred feelings of patriotism and nationalism throughout the country and would eventually expand the territory of the United States greatly. Zachary Taylor would become famous thanks to his role in this war and would ride this popularity into the presidency. America would gain the vast territory from Texas to California to become a continental power. This event offered a sharp contrast to what was going on in Europe in terms of nations and empires. As empires were getting split and new countries were forming in Europe thanks to nationalistic feelings, those same feelings were driving America and making it a stronger country, one that in the next few years would rival all of Europe in production and strength.


American Romanticism

While the Romantic movement was sweeping across Europe, the same event was happening across the Atlantic Ocean in America. The Romantic movement was felt greatly not only in Europe but in America as well. The ideas of nature and its power, emotional exuberance, and unrestrained imagination reigned free in the art and literature of this time. Edgar Allen Poe, Herman Melville, and Nathaniel Hawthorne were three of the most famous Romantic writers in America and their works are still extremely popular today. Poe's works especially had an incredible imagination, however dark it may be, and he showed the power of emotion with his many stories of tragedy and pain. Along with this, art began to depict the power of the American landscape, and emotions were powerful in much of the music at the time.