After years of fighting America claimed victory. America won because all the disadvantages Mexico faced during the war such as a weak central government, a lack in technology, and were at war with the Indians. The huge dispute about immigration and slavery in 1820’s at Texas foreshadowed an upcoming war between U.S and Mexico. In the beginning the Mexican government allowed American immigration to Texas. They also turned the other way when Americans brought slaves in order to help grow cotton.
Santa Anna was a marvelous war hero and even addressed himself as “the Napoleon of the West.” With this confidence and his experience as a leader and war hero, it was a surprise to everyone when he lost the Battle of San Jacinto against the Texicans. There were many factors at play leading to this loss. Had Santa Anna been smarter and more careful with his leadership and his war strategies, his loss could have been avoided; the battle all together could have even been avoided. Many factors led to the Texicans’ decision to declare their independence. The declaration was due to a lack of tolerance for religion, the repealing of the constitution of 1824, an unstable government with an unstable president, and the closure of the Mexican legislature, a congress of nine declared Texas independent from Mexico, followed by a formal declaration on March 2, 1836.
Since Santa Anna was taken out of position as president, the Mexican government refused to recognize Texas as independent officially. After attempts to invade Texas by Mexico, the United States decided to annex the Republic of Texas in 1845. This lead to the outbreak of the Mexican-American War. With help from local Native Americans, the United States was able to defeat Mexico, getting them to sign the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo recognized the Texas cession and also agreed to sell California, and the rest of its territory north of Rio Grande for $15 million, as well as taking care of any damages created from the
The whites agreed to these conditions and began settling Jim Bowie was one of these settlers; he came to Texas to make a profit. Jim Bowie is best known to have built the bowie knife but even more so to have fought in the Alamo. Jim Bowie married a rich politician who is actually the sister of Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna was the new leader of Mexico; after he was put into power he proclaimed himself a dictator and abolished the Mexican constitution. As the Texan settlements prospered whites began breaking the codes and started smuggling in slaves.
Finally when a new dictatorship came into power, they began to enforce the laws. Slavery among other issues was the big problem with the American Settlers, which with in a few years out numbered the Mexican population twice if not more in Texas. The United States had been trying to purchase Texas and other territories unsuccessfully. A movement began to stir in Texas for revolution. The American Settlers were tired of Mexican dictatorship and wanted the same freedoms they enjoyed back in America.
Around the same time, American President, James K. Polk (who took office on March 4, 1845) sent diplomat John Slidell to Mexico with an offer to buy Texas, New Mexico and California for about $30 million. Mexico rejected the offer. President Polk wanted to define the “borderline” of America. He sent orders to US Army General Zachary Taylor to set up a defense system on the north bank of the Rio Grande River. In addition, Polk also wanted to influence the people who lived in the region to pressure the Mexicans to sell off the territory that was not actually under any established form of government at that time since Mexico’s frontiers had no formal king or leader.
This caused a small conflict between the Americans and the Mexicans in Velasco where Mexicans were forced to surrender with the exhaustion of their ammunition. Another conflict was over t... ... middle of paper ... ...and his accommodates were unwilling to surrender, and they were able to quickly get a turn around and defeat the resting Mexican troops. Finally with the Treaty of Guadalupe, Americans once again showed their victorious spirit in the Texas Independence. Bibliography Davis, William C. Lone Star Rising: The Revolutionary Birth of the Texas Republic. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Inc., 2004 Hoyt, Edwin P. The Alamo: An Illustrated History.
The amount of Americans living in Mexico was rapidly multiplying. Mexico began to worry, especially when America offered to buy Texas from them. The Mexican government passed a law forbidding any more Americans to live in Mexico. Shortly afterwards an extremely powerful military leader named Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna... ... middle of paper ... ...id. Santa Anna was brought to Sam Houston, as he lay propped up against a tree because his foot had been shot.
They didn’t let one loss pull them down, they came back for a surprise attack on the Mexicans, leading them to their both their freedom and independence. I believe that General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna started the Texas Revolution solely to gain power over the Texans and build his own pride. To take thousands of Mexican troops into a war and have more than 1,850 casualties; over a war that could have been stopped or resolved at the beginning when the first isolated attacks began! This shows me that there obviously was an immense pride issue, with both Santa Anna and the Texans.
Argument #1: The United States and Mexican War was unlawful. America acted supreme over Mexican land and their rights without a valid reason. The US government used Manifest Destiny as excuse to expand borders and go to war with Mexico. The term “manifest destiny” was born by John O’Sullivan and was thought of a year before the war began. During the year 1846, people were moved by manifest destiny and seeked influence from the government to push west.