This painting shows the excitement of the American people reading news from the war. With the new invention of the electric telegram, the Mexican American War was one of the first wars in history where the common man felt involved with constant and immediate updates of the news from the war front.  By the looks on the peoples faces, you can tell that the news is very exciting and intriguing making it the talk of the town. Everyone is crowded around each other very tightly to make sure they hear the most recent new. Even the women inside is sticking her head out the window. There are a black man and black child, probably slaves, sitting on the steps listening. They are probably illiterate and have been waiting for a man to read off the recent news from the Mexican American war which will play a large roll in controlling their future. The men are both old and young, upper-class and lower-class. (Sarah B.)

Several different groups are showing in the painting above which is a relatively new phenomenon. Years surrounding the Mexican War there were many new immigrants coming into America which began to make the more cosmopolitan population that the U.S. has today. The men that are all in the light and center stage are white but when you look into the shadows there are different ethnicities represented here as well. In the far right there is an Indian and behind the man's shoulder there is man with reddish hair which could be an Irishman  and there also appears to be some sort of Latino dissent man wearing glasses. Most obvious we have the two African Americans. The older man is clothed relatively well but he has a straw hat next to him representing that he works farming, most likely as a slave. The child is in rags and easily assumed to be very poor. Both of them don't seem to have any interest in the news compared to the white men who are all fanatic. This shows the disconnects that the black population had from current evens because of their lack of power in anything that happens. The setting is very accurate since most news did travel in places like taverns and hotels since they were central gathering places. (Cassie B.)

In this picture you notice the excitement of the men reading the news. They could be excited for their chance to strike it rich as a westward settler. Furthermore you can see the mix of people. In the picture there are young white men, older white men, women, a young black male, and a black child. This could represent the change that was occuring during the 19th century. With the industrial revolution news traveled at a faster pace. The men also could be suprised from the news that 16 U.S. soldiers had been killed on U.S. soil by the Mexican military (although they were truly in what Mexico believed to be their territory). When looking further into the picture you see two older gentlemen whispering to eachother. These men could be discussing the possible arguement to come, slavery. (Tom W.)