Setting

The U.S.-Mexico Borderlands post 1848

Blood Meridian takes place in the area surrounding the Texas-Mexico border following the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
During this time, even though the Mexican American War had officially ended, tensions remained high
A triangle of distrust formed between Texans, Mexicans and natives on both sides of the border
Americans who wanted to continue the war with Mexico took it upon themselves to do so, earning the name, filibusters
The Mexican government offered contracts to anyone wanting them for the killing of Native Americans
The proof of this killing was provided by the return of native scalps

This acceptance of violence made the actions of the Glanton gang all the more possible
This culture also meant that the Mexican people treated the gang as heroes when they were brutally killing native people
The events of "Blood Meridian" would not be possible without these tensions between nations
The war-like conditions that were created because of these tensions created a space, wherein, the evils of man could be fully realized
It created a time and place where men could realize that, "War is God."

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