Essay On Why The Us Won The Mexican American War

512 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The manifest destiny theory

The United States won the Mexican-American War. With several reasons behind this great victory, this event had caught the European governments by surprise. As American armies were outnumbered four to one, and while they were also fighting in foreign lands, the American army still defeated the Mexican army and gained many more territories. In winning this impossible war, the Americans had almost complete control over what is now the United States of America and using the idea of “manifest destiny” to be the driving force behind their out-numbered armies. The United States army defeated the Mexican army after a battle that went on for two years from 1846 C. E. to 1848 C.E. With the Mexican army having an overwhelmingly large number of soldiers compared to the American army, four times the amount in fact, the Americans still had several advantages. As more industrialization grew within America, …show more content…

After the fact that the Mexican army outnumbered the United States four to one and the Americans were fighting on foreign soil, the Europeans did not expect the Americans to win due to one other reason. The war of 1812 C.E., when America attempted to attack the British in Canada, the Americans were unsuccessful. Therefore the European leaders placed these factors together and believed that the American nation did not stand a chance to win. Although the Americans faced unbeatable odds, it was the belief in the “manifest destiny,” that became their driving force to win an impossible war. The “manifest destiny” was a vision of some American citizens that the territory including California, New Mexico, Utah, Texas, Arizona, and Nevada belonged to the United States. Using this belief gave courage and determination to each soldier to win this war for America and their families. In doing so, their sacrifices would not only improve the wealth and land rights of the United States, but also create more future opportunities for

Show More
Related

  • Compare and contrast America’s “Manifest Destiny” of the mid-19th century with its “Imperialism” of the late 19th century.

    1056 Words  | 3 Pages

    America’s Manifest Destiny first surfaced around the 1840’s, when John O’Sullivan first titled the ideals that America had recently gained on claiming the West as their ‘Manifest Destiny.’ Americans wanted to settle in the West for multiple reasons, from the idea that God wanted them to settle all the way to the West co...

    Read More

  • Was The Mexican War Justified Dbq Essay

    460 Words  | 1 Pages

    Many people do not know that the Mexican War had increased the United States by 50%. The Mexican War started in 1846 and ended in 1848 and took place mostly south of the Rio Grande. What forced Mexico to declare war was the annexation of Texas, the citizens in Texas disobeying the Mexican laws, and Americans crossing the border. Do you think the United States had enough justification for going to war with Mexico? The United States was justified in going to war with Mexico because the United States’ Manifest Destiny beliefs, the Mexicans passed the border of Rio Grande, and the American citizens supported going to war.

    Read More

  • The Mexican War by Otis A. Singletary

    592 Words  | 2 Pages

    This book by Otis A. Singletary deals with different aspects of the Mexican war. It is a compelling description and concise history of the first successful offensive war in United States military history. The work examines two countries that were unprepared for war. The political intrigues and quarrels in appointing the military commanders, as well as the military operations of the war, are presented and analyzed in detail. The author also analyzes the role that the Mexican War played in bringing on the U.S. Civil War.

    Read More

  • Mexican War Dbq Essay

    862 Words  | 2 Pages

    Sixteen are killed from the Mexican attack along the Rio Grande! In 1821, Mexico freed itself from Spain. Mexico was equal in size to the United States. Mexican government wanted to increase population, so they invited Americans to settle in Texas. These settlers did not want to abide by Mexico’s rules and laws. Texas then won independence from Mexico in 1836. In the year 1844, James K. Polk was elected as president. He was a strong believer in manifest destiny. Congress decided to annex Texas into the United States. Mexico felt that America stole Texas from them. This caused conflict between the two countries. Was it right for the United States to declare war against Mexico? America was justified in going to war with Mexico because they could

    Read More

  • Mexican-American War Dbq

    904 Words  | 2 Pages

    As Americans, we’ve taken far greater than just tacos, burritos, and nachos from the culture of Mexico. Through America’s past relations with Mexico, America has taken large amounts of land, and a sense of power from country south of the United States, Mexico. In 1846, James Polk, a former president of the United States, declared war on Mexico. There was confusion between Mexico and America. Land was being traded, new borders were being formed, but disorientation was aroused causing conflict. Differences in culture, beliefs, and even national law led to dispute among these two countries, making it even more difficult to reach a treaty of peace, or a deal. The Mexican-American War was not justified because it was an excuse for gaining land,

    Read More

  • Manifest Destiny and the Genocide of the Native American Indian

    1365 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the 1830’s America was highly influenced by the Manifest Destiny Ideal. Manifest Destiny was the motivating force behind the rapid expansion of America into the West. This ideal was highly sponsored by posters, newspapers, and various other methods of communication. Propaganda was and is still an incredibly common way to spread an idea to the masses. Though Manifest Destiny was not an official government policy, it led to the passing of the Homestead Act. The Homestead Act gave applicants freehold titles of undeveloped land outside of the original thirteen colonies. It encouraged Westward colonization and territorial acquisition. The Homestead Act was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862. To America, Manifest Destiny was the idea that America was destined to expand across the North American continent, from the Atlantic, to the Pacific Ocean. Throughout this time Native Americans were seen as obstacles because they occupied land that the United States needed to conquer to continue with their Manifest Destiny Ideal. Many wars were fought between the A...

    Read More

  • Was The Mexican American War Justified Essay

    696 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Mexican-American War was in 1846, many Americans and Mexicans died. Mexico was trying to win back the land they once had, while America wanted more of their land for their belief manifest destiny. The Mexican-American war was started by a simple mistake, the Americans went to Mexico to ask for more land. While some Americans were camping in Texas a group of Mexican soldiers killed all of the Americans. This was because American and Mexico haven’t decided on whose territory Texas was since The Alamo.

    Read More

  • The War of 1812

    969 Words  | 2 Pages

    Although America did not win The War of 1812, due to the Battle of Lake Erie, they did not lose it. The war was caused by the impressment of American soldiers, blockades on American trade, and Indian slaughters on the American frontier. James Madison launched The War of 1812 so that the United States would not be taken advantage of, but by doing so, he took on an army fifty times bigger than his own. When it looked like America would lose the war, Oliver Hazard Perry turned the tables and won the deciding battle that allowed James Monroe to sign the Treaty of Ghent and bring peace to the two countries. Although the original conflicts were not solved, they dissipated over time. The War of 1812 may not have solved many problems, but it proved to American’s that they could stand together and prevail over injustice.

    Read More

  • Manifest Destiny

    542 Words  | 2 Pages

    Americans throughout history have always felt that they were superior. The concept of “Manifest Destiny” has been the fuel to the fire of superiority. Manifest Destiny is the belief that it is American’s are the chosen ones and have the obvious right to conquer and own land between the eastern and western seaboards and that such expansion was inevitable. Manifest Destiny along with Christianity were two reasons that drove and encouraged both expansion within North Amer...

    Read More

  • The Mexican War

    2001 Words  | 5 Pages

    Beginning in 1845 and ending in 1850 a series of events took place that would come to be known as the Mexican war and the Texas Revolution. This paper will give an overview on not only the events that occurred (battles, treaties, negotiations, ect.) But also the politics and reasoning behind it all. This was a war that involved America and Mexico fighting over Texas. That was the base for the entire ordeal. This series of events contained some of the most dramatic war strategy that has ever been implemented.

    Read More

  • Manifest Destiny

    1130 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Manifest Destiny that was painted on the fabric of this nation in red, white and blue was finished before the dawn of the twentieth century. With the nature of polictics and the temperament of political leadership, the ink from that painting spread its pigment across the Western Hemisphere and well into the blue waters and pulsing tides of the Pacific Rim. The stars and stripes would expand from the earth to the moon in the latter half of the twentieth century, they will continue to expand until that day when providence my sign his name to the master piece titled, “Destiny, Manifested.”

    Read More

  • How Does Manifest Destiny Legitimize The Mexican-American War?

    1130 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Mexican War or Mexican-American War is a war that had occurred from 1846-1848 and the legitimacy of the war depends only on the idea of Manifest Destiny. The war was a conflict that began with a territory dispute between the United Mexican States and the United States of America. Many historians would argue that the conflict was inevitable and that the fight between territories was unavoidable as the United States had already began its path of seizing land by any means necessary including winning conflicts and purchasing land. The Mexican people were not the only people who were attacked and defeated for land, and the list of people also includes the Native Americans at the time that populated much of North America. Although many would

    Read More

  • Women In Mexico And The United States And Mexico

    1684 Words  | 4 Pages

    While women in Mexico and the United States were both fighting for their rights, their choices and actions were shaped by the world around them. Between the years of 1846 and 1848, the United States and Mexico had been at war with one another. The United States attacked Mexico because they believed themselves to be entitled to their land. They called this entitlement Manifest Destiny. The United States was ultimately victorious, this was an enormous defeat to the Mexican people and they were forced to give up approximately half of their territory. This defeat came shortly after Mexico had declared its independence.

    Read More

  • Mexican War Justified Essay

    539 Words  | 2 Pages

    Mexico was stupid to shed American blood on Americas land. In 1846 there was a war that came upon the US and it was called the Mexican war. This war took place in Texas. Before this occurred the US wasn't being nice and fair to Mexico. The US was also breaking some laws. Was it right for the US to go to war Mexico? This war was also controversial. The US was justified in going to war with Mexico because Mexico fired first , it was Mexicos fault and the US has Texas now, and because of the manifest destiny.

    Read More

  • The Mexican-American War

    1453 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Americans used a new artillery method called flying artillery, in which mobile light artillery was mounted on horse carriages and the cannoneers were mounted too, in addition, the shells exploded on impact, devastating the Mexican artillery, the Arista tried to route the Flying Artillery with the Mexican Cavalry but did not succeed. The American Artillery demoralized the Mexicans, so Arista decided to withdraw to a place in their favor.... ... middle of paper ... ... Before the Mexican American war, American settlers invaded Mexican territory, but because the Mexicans had just finished their own revolution, they were too weak to control them, plus, the northern territories of Mexico were not populated, so it was very inviting for them.

    Read More

More about Essay On Why The Us Won The Mexican American War

Open Document