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.
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 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.
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
8. Meyer, Michael C., et al. The Course of Mexican History, 7th ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003.
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.
Polk, the new president, made a proposal to the Mexican government to purchase the disputed land. When that offer was rejected, troops from the United States were moved into the disputed territory of Coahuila. These troops were then attacked by Mexican troops, killing 12 American troops and taking 52 prisoners. These same Mexican troops later laid put upon a US fort along the Rio Grande. This would lead to the conflict that resulted in the loss of much of Mexico's northern territory.US forces quickly occupied Mexico and California Territory, then invaded parts of Northeastern Mexico and Northwest Mexico. The Pacific took control of several garrisons on the Pacific coast.
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.
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.
The U.S requested the also be given the Rio Grande. The Rio Grande was south of Texas and clearly belonged to Mexico (refer to figure 1). The U.S felt that the Rio Grande was part of Texas and should be given to the U.S with Texas. Mexico would not give up the Rio Grande because they were certain that the Rio Grande belonged to them. America's greed is THE major reason this conflict occurred. The U.S also believed the Mexico should have to pay for any of the U.S's debts that were incurred during Mexico's conflicts with Spain. America was in debt 3 million dollars because of the Mexico and Spanish conflicts and America very strongly believed that these debts were Mexico's fault and they should have to pay for them.
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.
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 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.
The US was justified in going to war with Mexico because the mexicans attempted to forcefully removed General Zachary Taylor’s men, Mexico killed Americans first and the US would be able to obtain California. Mexico had no reason to send forces into the disputed territory without communicating with the Americans. Mexico attacked and killed 16 Americans at the Rio del Norte, giving America no other choice than to defend their people. It was America’s Manifest Destiny to spread to the Pacific, so when America could distract Mexico with the war over Texas, they took their chance. America had many justifiable reasons for going to war with Mexico, but Mexico might tell another story, so take what I have told you and what others will tell you and choose whether or not the US was justified in going to war with
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.