Texas, Westward American Movement, Manifest Destiny

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The United States and Mexico had many disputes that led to the war. The most important was the issue with Texas, westward American movement, Manifest Destiny, and the actions carried out by the President Tyler and President Polk.

There was already tension between Mexico and the United States. Americans already had a negative view of Mexico because of the Texas Revolution and Mexico owed the United States money for the Mexican Revolution against Spain. Mexico’s issues with the U.S regarded the Manifest Destiny and the fact that they didn't believe in it and didn't want to give away their land. They also felt that Texas was being stolen from them.

The Annexation of Texas by the US angered the Mexican government. Mexico never acknowledged …show more content…

Also, there was an ideal that the Southerners traveled into Texas to get another slave state into the Union and relinquish Southern lower. Most Americans sympathized with Texas because most of them were former Americans. However, the American public developed negative stereotypes against the Mexican people and government as a result of the brutal fighting at the Alamo, massacre at Goliad, and other instances.

Another issue with Mexico was Manifest Destiny. Manifest Destiny was the belief that Americans had a God-given destiny to expand across the American Continent. This ideal contributed to the westward migration of Americans as they traveled in search of economic gain. The best example of this was seen in the United States' desire to acquire California to establish markets and a base in heavily populated parts of Asia.

After Texas Annexation, Mexico threatened war. In an effort to work for better relations, President Polk sent John Slidell to Mexico. His mission was to discuss the purchase of New Mexico and California, get Mexican recognition of the Rio Grande as the border between Mexico and the United States, and to forgive about 4.5 million dollars owed to US citizens from the Mexican War of Independence. The Mexican government refused to talk to him which angered the US …show more content…

He used it to justify efforts to acquire the vast Mexican lands in the Southwest.

The War had many effects. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ceded New Mexico and California to the US for $15 million dollars. It also established Rio Grande as Texas’ southern border. The Wilmo Proviso argued for banning of slavery in the newly acquired territories from Mexico during the war. It was the cause of tension between the North and the South and was an early cause of the Civil War. It benefited Northerners and angered southerners. The compromise included California admitted as a free state.

For Mexico, there was loss of life, economic ruin, and huge damage to property. The war left thousands of orphans and widows. Gunfire caused destruction to buildings and naval blockades and movement severely affected the economy. For the United States, they gained massive areas of land. It was the nation’s first foreign war and took place almost entirely on foreign

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