Winfield Scott's Mexican War leadership emphasized which combination of war principles?

• A. Maneuver, Offensive power, Simplicity, Economies of force
• B. Mass, Shock action, Frontal assaults, Logistics
• C. Attrition, Exhaustion, Trench warfare
• D. Guerrilla warfare and deception

Answer: (A)

Scott’s leadership in the Mexican War centered on moving fast, striking decisively, keeping plans simple, and concentrating strength where it would count. Maneuver powered his campaign by letting the army outpace the enemy and choose the most advantageous route, placing forces to strike where Mexican defenses were weakest or most vulnerable. Offensive power shows in his willingness to seize the initiative and press the Mexican army at decisive points, instead of waiting for the foe to dictate the tempo. Simplicity kept the plan clear and executable—a straightforward expedition from Veracruz inland toward Mexico City, avoiding overcomplicated maneuvers that could bog the command down. Economies of force meant concentrating his main strength at key points, avoiding needless dispersion, and using logistics efficiently to sustain the decisive blows, so the campaign could end quickly with minimal waste of resources. These elements together reflect why this set of principles best describes Scott’s approach, contrasting with strategies that rely on attrition, trench warfare, or guerrilla tactics.