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What are the causes of the spanish-american war
Causes of the spanish american war
Causes of the spanish american war
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The Mexican-American war of 1846-1848, a contentious checkpoint in history, was the bloodshed of both the Mexican and American army over the Texas revolution and annexation. In spite of all of America’s debatable actions, the decision to wage war with Mexico was to the fullest degree, justifiable. Mexico’s inadequate government, violence and mistreatment of settlers prove America’s steps to provide for the common defense and declaration of war as worthwhile. First and foremost, the Mexican-American war was completely rational due to the fact that it derived from Mexico’s incompetent government. In context, Mexico had difficulty handling foreign and domestic affairs. As stated in James K. Polk’s Address to Congress for a Declaration of War …show more content…
The North-Carolina Standard, a newspaper published the 14th of April 1836 states, “On the 6th of March about midnight, the Alamo was assaulted by the whole Mexican army commanded by Santa Anna in person. The Battle was desperate until daylight, when only 7 men belonging to the Texan garrison were found alive, who called for quarter, but were told that there was none for them. They then continued fighting until the whole were butchered. One woman (Mrs. Dickinson) a negro of Colonel Travis, were the only persons whose lives were spared.” It is never right to condone the slaughter of innocents and those who are gasping for freedom. Mexico’s merciless attack on the Texas rebellion singlehandedly legitimize going to war with Mexico. It is America’s purpose as a world superpower then and even now to defend those who cannot support themselves. Texas was violently attacked by Santa Anna’s soldiers for its request for freedom from Mexico. In more current times, America is seen helping other countries and lands hold their grounds. These instances include America rebuilding Japan’s economy after World War II, sending in United States-led coalition forces to aid Kuwait in the Gulf Wars, and much more. While safeguarding Texas, the Americans also needed to secure its own people. Conforming to Polk’s Declaration of War, “But now, after reiterated menaces, Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory, and shed American blood upon the American soil.” Polk refers to when 16 American soldiers lost their lives to Mexican soldiers in the Texas area. The display of pure hostility towards the American government, rather than negotiation is the true start of war. It was an offense on American grounds meaning that as a government, the United
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
One reason the Mexican War was justified was the United States Manifest Destiny beliefs. Evidence supporting this reason is that, according to Document A, John O'Sullivan said it was God’s choice if the United States will grow by taking or buying territory. Also, the annexation of Texas helped grow the United States which gave the
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.
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
Through Manifest Destiny, the U.S. conquered many new territories. Ever since the U.S. became its own country, they always wanted more land. They thought that the Manifest Destiny gave them the right to expand and conquer more land. The United States were offered a deal known as the Louisiana Purchase which doubled their size. Even after they received this land, they were thirsty for more. They wanted to have Texas as their own. After Texas got their independence from Mexico, President Polk annexed it. Polk had his eye set on California next. But before he could get California, he had to deal with border dispute in Texas, leading to the war with Mexico. So, did the United States have a good reason to go to war with Mexico? The answer is simple, the U.S. was not justified into going to war with Mexico. This is proven through the Manifest Destiny, border disputes, and an American viewpoint on the war.
Was the United States Justified in Going to War with Mexico? The Mexican War, or the "U.S. Invasion" (according to the Mexicans) started on April 24, 1826. Many Americans and Mexicans died fighting in the Mexican War. This war was nothing compared to the Civil War just 15 years later but it was heart breaking for everyone at that time. At the end of the war half of the country of Mexico was taken by the United States as a war prize. So, was the United States justified in going to war with Mexico? I think the U.S. was unjustified to go to war with Mexico because, the United states provokes the war and starts the war, the only reason they had the Mexican war was to gain land and lastly Texas was stolen from Mexico by southern slave owners.
Today we live in a world where war never sleeps. War is a term used to explain conflict between two nations, or within a nation. This particular war was between two nations, Mexico and the United States. About a century and a half ago in 1846, on what was thought to be the Mexican-American border, many American and Mexican soldiers lost their lives. The war was an on-going feud, that had and still has many pros and cons. The U.S. was unjustified in going to war with Mexico because many U.S. citizens disagreed and sided with Mexico. Mexico owned and took care of the land first, and the United States deliberately caused this war to occur. As awesome as a
The Mexican–American War, also known as the Mexican War, the U.S.–Mexican War, the Invasion of Mexico, the U.S. Intervention, or the United States War Against Mexico, was an armed conflict between the United States and the Centralist Republic of Mexico from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S. annexation of Texas, which Mexico considered part of its territory despite the 1836 Texas Riot. Through this time, supply ships from San Blas continued to be unpredictable and the missions—with their native workers—were worried to provide for the population. When the native groups began to resist the bigger demands, they were placed under firmer military control. Also, additional tribes were gathered, mixed, and combined into dense groups in order to serve the payment. Under these conditions, new diseases quickly spread and native cultures were further disrupted.
Rosales, F. Arturo. Lecture 2/14 Film The US-Mexican War Prelude. Weber, David J. - "The 'Path of the World'" Foreigners in Their Native Land: The Historical Roots of Mexican Americans.
“largely ignored Mexican authority”(roden,317). The Texans(Mexicans) let in the Americans in without having to pay for land and they still broke the laws.“ Certainly (Mexico)... might just charge be citizen”(summers,329).The Anglos came in and disobeyed the only laws they had to follow. They made slavery illegal, then the anglos brought 38000 slaves(summers, 329). They knew slavery was illegal, but they brought them anyway. Texas welcomed them in if the Americans followed the laws(alamo, Background). They broke most of the laws. This evidence shows the U.S. was not justified in going to war because they disrespected the authority of Mexico. America was allowed to settle in Texas and they ignored everything they
Bauer, K. Jack. “Mexican War,” Handbook of Texas Online, last modified June 15, 2010, accessed May 2, 2014, https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/qdm02
A Texan, William B. Travis and a small group of Texans attacked a squad of Mexican troops in Anahuac with the motive that “taxes should not thus be collected from them to support a standing army in their own country” (SOS 1) and soon drove them back. Travis retreated to San Felipe and were assisted to Bexar. Skirmishes and the threat of war with Mexico soon followed.
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.
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
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.