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Spanish-American War, what was the effect after the war
The Mexican war of independence
Spanish-American War, what was the effect after the war
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The Mexican War of 1846-1848 was one of major importance to U.S. history, but has since fallen into annals of obscurity. It was the nation’s first war fought on foreign soil: a war that advocated the concept of “manifest destiny”, the United States God-given right to claim territory for the establishment of a free democratic society (Stevenson 2009). Even though many historians claim the war was forced on Mexico by slaveholders greedy for new territory, President John Polk viewed the war as an opportunity to defend the annexation of Texas, establish the Rio Grande as its border, and to acquire the Mexican territories of California and New Mexico (Stevenson 2009). Annexation of the newly formed republic of Texas incited bitter debate on all sides. All of the slave states wanted to bring Texas into the Union, but a number of free-states were opposed because it would destroy the balance of power in Congress. Britain also denounced annexation because they wanted to stop American expansion (McGill 2009). The Mexican government, who still claimed the disputed territory, repeatedly warned that if Texas became a U.S. state, there would be war. Despite political controversy and the prospects of war, the annexation of Texas was important because Britain was negotiating an alliance with the Republic of Texas. This alliance would wreck the Southern cotton trade and stop American expansion (The Mexican War 2006). Newly elected President James Polk, a strong advocate for American expansion, dispatched John Slidell to Mexico to negotiate a deal for the New Mexico and California territories and to seek Mexican recognition of the Rio Grande River as the new Mexican-American border. It was important for the United States to establish its border ... ... middle of paper ... ...ed on Mexico by slaveholders greedy for new territory, President John Polk viewed the war as an opportunity to defend the annexation of Texas, establish the Rio Grande as its border, and to acquire the Mexican territories of California and New Mexico. Opportunity to defend the annexation of Texas, establish the Rio Grande as its boarder, and to acquire the Mexican territories of California and New Mexico. References McGill, S. (2009). The War for Texan Independence & the Annexation of Texas. War for Texan Independence & the Annexation of Texas, 1. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Stevenson, K. (2009). The Mexican War. Mexican War, 1. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. The Mexican War. (2006). Current Events, 106(3), 2. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Tindall, G. B., & Shi, D. E. (2010). America, a narrative history (8th ed., Vol. 1). New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Company.