Mexican War/US Land and Territory
The Mexican American War caused many people to lose lives and could have been avoided. President Polk wanted more land and liked the idea of expanding the US. As a result of the war, the US had acquired more than 525,000 square miles of land. Many historians believe that the Mexican War was an unnecessary attack on a weaker country. The Mexican war had many causes and effects but ultimately Mexico lost.
The Mexican American war happened for many reasons. Around 1835, Texas went against the Mexican government. "One of these disputes was the question of the boundary between Texas and Mexico (Downey)." The Mexican government owned Texas at the time. In 1844, James Polk was elected President. "More important was a growing feeling in the US that the country had a "Manifest Destiny" to expand westward into new lands (Downey)." He really liked the idea of expanding the US and because of that he supported the Annexation of Texas. Texas became a state in 1845 and so Mexico broke off all relations with the US. The US also said that Mexico owed the US $3 million to make up for lives and property lost. Americans demanded the US take it by force. There were many reasons that caused the Mexican War to happen.
The Americans had two objectives, more land and to invade Mexico. The US wanted land that they had asked Mexico to sell. "Despite all the American victories Mexico refused to negotiate a peace treaty (Downey)." They wanted to invade Mexico to force the Mexicans to accept they lost they land. "The US paid $15 million for land” (Downey). Mexicans in lands were to be treated just like US citizens were. Mexico lost 2/3 of its pre war territory including Texas. America took California, Nevada, Utah, Colorad...
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...n objectives of the war, more land and to invade Mexico. America gained lots of land and also revived the thought of slavery. The US gained the regions of California Nevada and Utah. They also acquired most of Arizona New Mexico and parts of Colorado and Wyoming. Many historians believe the Mexican war wasn't needed and was an unnecessary attack on a weaker country.
Works Cited
"Chapter 8: The Mexican War and After." Chapter 8: The Mexican War and After. Combat Studies Institute Press, 2007. Web. 13 Mar. 2014.
"Mexican American War Timeline." Mexican American War Timeline. Web. 14 Mar. 2014. .
"Mexican-American War." History.com. A&E Television Networks. Web. 14 Mar. 2014. .
"Mexican War." World Book Online InfoFinder. World Book, 2014. Web. 5 Mar. 2014.
The Mexican-American War of the 1840s, precipitated by border disputes and the U.S. annexation of Texas, ended with the military occupation of Mexico City by General Winfield Scott. In the subsequent treaty, the United States gained territory that would become California, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and parts of Wyoming and Colorado.
In addition, during Polk’s term he expanded the United States’ border to the west coast. His desire to enlarge the country stemmed from his belief in “manifest destiny” which was the idea that the United States was destined to stretch to the Pacific Ocean. His presidency; his decisions for the country were influenced by manifest destiny. In the article titled “Mexican-American War,” James K. Polk wanted to acquire California and the southwestern land of the United States. Polk’s movement of troops into the conflicted zone between the Rio Grande and Nueces River initiated a conflict with Mexico. The conflict developed into a war, with hefty Mexican losses, but finally ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo with the U.S. as the victor. In the treaty, Mexico decided to sell all the land north of the Rio G...
Although many Americans did not take the war seriously, the Mexican-American War of 1846 was responsible for the thousands of both Mexican and American deaths, and permanently left a scar on the the U.S’ relationship with Mexico. In 1846, the U.S declared war on Mexico after shots were fired at American soldiers on the “Texas side” of the Rio Grande, which the Americans believed was the border between Mexico and the U.S. The war was very controversial, and many Americans vigorously opposed President Polk’s decision to declare war. However after winning the war, the U.S gained most of Mexico’s territory in the West, completing the Manifest Destiny (BGE). Was the U.S. right to go to war with Mexico? The United States were unjustified in going
In President James Polk’s War Message to Congress, he states that the Congress of Texas had declared the Rio Grande to be the official boundary between Mexico and Texas. James Polk said, “Sixty-three men and officers, were … dispatched from the American camp up the Rio del Norte, on its [North] bank, to ascertain whether the Mexican troops had crosse, or were preparing to cross, the river…. [They] became engaged with a large body of these [Mexican] troops, and, after a short affair, in which some sixteen [Americans] were killed and wounded, appear to have been surrounded and compelled to surrender….” The invasion was almost like a ticket to declare war against Mexico for James Polk. He began to say that America had given its best efforts to mend the relationship between the countries, but even before the small battle, peace was not an option. “Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon American soil.” This evidence shows that the United States was justified in declaring war against Mexico because they were trying to protect their own country. In trying to protect their own country and its borders, they were engaged in an attack from Mexico. Mexico threatened America first, this gives a reason for America to declare war against
These two countries had reached a deal of new boundaries between themselves. Although, Mexico believed the Nueces River was the newly formed border, while America thought the Rio Grande serves as the new border. President James Polk sent a total of sixty three troops to station along the northern banks of the Rio Grande. Now, the Rio Grande was south of the Nueces River. Because the Mexicans believed the Nueces, which was farther north, was the new border, it led them to believe the Americans had “invaded” Mexico, causing confusion, and bloodshed, eventually leading to a declaration of war from the U.S. government. The Mexicans had crossed what America thought was the border, the Rio Grande. James Polk issued a declaration of war with Mexico after hearing his troops were being killed, due to a “Mexican invasion” (Doc G). While James Polk believed Mexico had invaded Texas, now a part of the Union, the Mexican Republic believed American troops were at fault for invading Mexico. Rumors spread throughout both countries of the other invading. The Mexicans had formerly offered peace, yet none was reached, continuing on to the war. Confusion of new borderlines and “invasions” of troops spread causing more conflict between America and Mexico, which was one of the major causes of the Mexican War.
Rodolfo Acuña and Norman A. Graebner take opposing standpoints on this topic. Acuña takes the standpoint that the Americans took advantage of the Mexican government, which was young and unstable at the time. He argued that the United States waged an unjust war solely for the acquisition of new lands. His excerpt from Occupied America: A History of Chicanos, 3rd Edition provided the basis for his argument. On the other hand, Graebner took the standpoint that President James Polk pushed a policy, enforced by a stronger nation, to force Mexico to sell New Mexico and California and recognize the annexation of Texas to the United States without starting a war. His argument was taken from his article “The Mexican War: A Study in Causation”. Both sides of the American Imperialism argument contain their own strengths. However, after the examination of the articles, Graebner proposes a more convincing
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. The United States was not justified in going to war with Mexico because America came in and broke the laws, there were no borders for Texas, and America stole Mexico's land. Tejanos(Mexicans) invited Americans in to settle in Texas. Americans also known as Anglos Broke most of the few laws Mexico made. There was a war for the independence of Texas. A couple years later, President Polk went to go ask Mexico for some of their land because of their belief called Manifest destiny. Which was the belief that God wanted to expand America's land from Texas all the way to the Pacific.
Later they wanted to annex it but Mexico said that any attempts to annex Texas would be an act of war. The Mexican War started in 1846, when Mexicans attacked a group of United States soldiers, under the command of Zachary Taylor, in a disputed zone on the border of United States and Mexico, killing about a dozen American soldiers. President Polk told the U.S. Congress that the “cup of forbearance has been exhausted” which means the Mexicans hit the last straw and it is time for war. President Polk sent General Zachary Taylor to Nueces River vs. Rio Grande to poke the Mexicans to shoot and they did. The Mexicans have shed “American blood upon American soil.” The United States wanted war with Mexico now they have a reason to declare war ( History.com
I think that the start of the Mexican-American War was influenced by many political factors at the time, as well as disputes over land ownership. A primary factor in the cause of the war was that of the annexation of Texas. Texas was considered to be a province by Mexico, but the United States wanted it to become a state. Texas also wished to become a state, as they hoped it would solve some of their financial and military problems. In March of 1845, the United States Congress approved annexation, and the Texas Congress approved it in June. Texas became a state in December, thus angering the Mexican government, who considered it to be stolen.
The Mexican-American war determined the destiny of the United States of America, it determined whether or not it would become a world power and it established the size of the United States of America. Perhaps the war was inevitable due to the idea of Manifest Destiny - Americans thought they had the divine right to extend their territory. The Mexican-American War started mainly because of the annexation of the Republic of Texas (established in 1836 after breaking away from Mexico). The United States and Mexico still had conflicts on what the borders of Texas was, the United States claimed that the Texas border with Mexico was the Rio Grande, but the Mexicans said that it was the Nueces River, so the land in between were disputed and claimed by both the United States and Mexico.
What is war? War is a conflict between two societies. That’s exactly what the Mexican-American War was, a conflict between two societies, The United States and Mexico. The United States was being greedy and wanted to expand to the Pacific Ocean. What was it for the United States to gain this much land, what was the purpose of starting this fight? When Texas gained its independence from Mexico, the United Sates didn’t want them as a part of the Union because the Northern states were against adding another state that housed slaves. There was also a border conflict between Mexico and the United States. President Polk thought it was a good idea to move American troops beyond the border, which caused Mexico to fire first. Henry Thoreau, an essayist, was best known for his expression of opinion towards President Polk, The Mexican-American War and slavery. Thoreau hated everything that the President stood for and was against the Mexican War, resulting in his outward protest towards the war through his refusal to pay taxes. He spent one night in jail as well to express his protest towards
The Mexican American war lasted from 1846 to 1848. This was a war between an unprepared Mexico and America the war was fought on the southwestern side of America. The Mexican American war brought back the argument of slavery, which was one of the causes that lead up to the civil war. The Mexican American war was important in America’s history because it was a battle between great leaders. The people that were involved were General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, General Stephen W. Kearny, and General Zachary Taylor.
In 1845 the U.S attempted to Annex Texas. Basically America wanted Texas to become one of the states rather then and independent nation by itself. At this time Texas was an independent nation that was not a part of America or Mexico. Mexico wanted to keep Texas neutral if not a part of its own country. When the U.S attempted to annex Texas Mexico became outraged, " In November 1843 Mexico had warned that if the United States should commit the 'unheard-of aggression' of seizing an integral part of 'Mexican territory' Mexico would declare war " (Bound for the Rio Grande, 62). Despite the warning the U.S attempted to annex Texas. In doing so Mexico retaliated by breaking off all diplomatic relations with the U.S. Mexico felt that the U.S was insulting them by not taking them seriously when they threatened with war. So at this point America showed a very large interest in possessing Texas. America was very close to actually acquiring Texas when they made their first mistake in the war.
The Mexican-American war took place from 1846 to 1848. The war was fought between the United States and Mexico over the issue of disputed land, as well as past conflict. Even though heavily supported by the American people at the time, the reasoning behind the war as well as its justification is often questioned. Many people believe that Manifest Destiny was not an adequate excuse for the taking of over 500,000 square miles of land from the Mexican people. Additionally, the taking of Mexico’s lands was by no means justified by the self-proclaimed, entitled ideology of the American people
In 1846 the U.S. wanted Texas for themselves but the only problem was Mexico also wanted Texas. Two countries wanted the same state thus starting the Mexican American War. Some people question if the U.S. was justified in fighting in the war. Yes, they were justified because in the Pro-War Newspaper Article it tells how the U.S. just wanted to peacefully talk to Mexico but when they tried, a war broke out starting with the Mexicans firing first.