Media and Military Relations During the Mexican War

<p>The relationship that developed between the military and the media during the Mexican War is the primary focus of this thesis. This paper looks at the media's coverage of the war from 1846 to 1848 spotlighting a comparison and contrast of the treatment of General Zachary Taylor and General Winfield Scott. Research supports five direct and two indirect relationships that developed between the military and the media during the course of the Mexican War. These relationships illuminate a cooperative partnership as military leaders and media members recognized shared interests and goals within the context of war. The five direct relationships included the following: (1) the relational impact on political careers of battlefield commanders (2) the relational impact on reports from the battlefield to government officials in Washington (3) the relational impact on moral integrity through open criticism of war crimes (4) the relational impact on military recruiting efforts and (5) the relational impact on soldier morale. The two indirect relationships between the military and the media were as follows: (1) the relational impact shaped political views of U.S. voters on the subject of war with Mexico and (2) may have played a role in reducing the length of the war.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>