The French captured Veracruz in December 1838, around Mexico's formal declaration of war. The Republic of Texas patrolled Corpus Christi Bay to stop Mexican smuggling. Texas cooperated to avoid French action against it for undermining the blockade. The United States sent the schooner Woodbury to help the French blockade, illustrating the limits of treating the Monroe Doctrine as an automatic guarantee against European coercion.
Notable Point · 16:50-17:38
Texas and American participation in the French blockade
Texas patrols and the schooner Woodbury complicate a simple picture of American opposition to European intervention.