Mistakes Made in the United States and Mexican War

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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. The idea of manifest destiny could have been used as an excuse from the government to go to war with Mexico because California was already wanted by America. "John L. O'Sullivan on Manifest Destiny, 1839." John L. O'Sullivan on Manifest Destiny, 1839. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2014. The declaring of war on Mexico by Congress in May of 1846 was unpardonable. The U.S. and Mexican War was out hostility. U.S. declared war that was not meant to be because Mexico had done nothing to cause it and only called for war because of the expansionists in government who wanted Mexican land. "The Aftermath of War." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 02 Feb. 2014. Argument #2: The U.S. and Mexico War caused many negative outcomes. The U.S. and Mexican War left tremendous marks on both their histories, but also destroyed Mexico. For Mexico, the war was a series of tragedies. Besides the thousands of military and civilian deaths directly attributed to battles, the war left tens of thousands of orphans, widows and cripples (PBS). "The Aftermath of War." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 02 Feb. 2014. The western expansion broke Mexico from the core, starting with families. The majority of Mexican families became separated when the new border was put in play and as a result to this, families were divided by being placed on opposing... ... middle of paper ... ...e Indian Removal Act was written in a way that suggests a fair “exchange” of lands between natives and Americans, however, it opened the door for the militias of the southern states to drive the Native Americans, like a herd of cattle, from their land by force. The federal government did not care or think about the fact that the Cherokee nation had changed their ways to assimilate the American culture. Instead, the U.S. government forced an entire nation over which it had no jurisdiction to march hundreds of miles at gunpoint like savage barbarians, causing thousands to die. The Cherokee had been abused by white settlers, who burned their towns, occupied Cherokee territory illegally, and stole their livestock. After all of what they had been through, the Cherokee nation were forcibly removed from their homes. "Westward Expansion." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 30 Jan. 2014.

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