Mexican-American War Dbq

Politically, the corruption of President James K. Polk fused with the new social belief of manifest destiny, influenced the war between the United States and Texas. Democrat James K. Polk was elected president in 1844. Polk was the first American “dark horse” candidate, or unannounced candidate at the democratic convention (Zinn, A People’s History). President, James K. Polk had a

He then deliberately sent in General Zachary Taylor with U.S. troops to the disputed area of Rio Grande, which Mexico immediately took as an intentional and aggressive attempt by the United States to take over their lands. (2) But remarkably, it was not Mexico who declared war but the United States. And so began the infamous Mexican-American war, which lasted for about two years, from 1846-1848.

On the twenty-first of April, the President of Mexico, General Antonio Lopez De Santa Anna, was captured near the river of San Jacinto. With this victory came reward and repercussion. Although this victory brought on our independence, it also lacked the acknowledgement from Mexico we so desperately needed. Not only did the Mexicans not recognize us as a republic but also did not acknowledge our boundary of the Rio Grande River. Because of this they still posed a threat to our newly stated independence.

1. “How did Lincoln and Johnson each approach reconstruction?” Johnson did not have Lincoln’s moral sense and political judgement when it came to reconstruction. “As wartime president, Lincoln had offered amnesty to all but high-ranking Confederates” (464). Lincoln had proposed that when ten percent of a rebellious states voters had sworn loyalty (taken an oath), then the state would be restored to the Union as long as it had approved the thirteenth amendment to abolish slavery.

As a compromise, Maine was also admitted. This agreement also established the 36°30 line that allowed no slave states above it. This angered the south because it stopped them from spreading their political views to the rest of the states. Citizens who volunteered for the Confederate army put themselves through unimaginable horrors to protect things very important to them. Texans fought in the Civil War for states rights, sectionalism, and to keep their slaves.

Throughout the 19th century, the United States’ population significantly increased. Mexico looked towards the United State’s booming population and offered Stephen Austin the prospect of colonizing the “old three-hundred” American families in present-day Texas in order to populate the otherwise desolate region. Mexican officials, however, weren’t aware of the implications such colonization would have on the union’s longevity. In spite of Mexican provisions requiring colonists to become “Mexicanized” and be non-slave owning catholics, many Texans did not follow such terms facilitating the development of an independent Texan-American identity ultimately culminating in the Texan Revolution. After the Texan Revolution, Texas applied for statehood in the United States raising questions as to how such expansionism might upset the balance of free to slave states.

One of the consequences of Manifest Destiny was the Mexican-American War. Following the ideology of Manifest Destiny, Texas was annexed into the United States in 1845, creating tensions with the Mexican government. While the annexation of Texas had great benefits for America, from the Mexican point of view it caused many issues legally and threatened national security (Document C). In pursuit of the grand ambitions of Manifest Destiny, President Polk and many Americans forgot to consider the consequences of achieving their ultimate goal of controlling the whole of North America. While before the United States had supported the independent countries, such as Mexico, that had broken free of Spanish rule, during this time period America lost sight of their ideals and made

The late nineteenth century was not one for child advocacy, and the master-layman dynamic of the rural Mexican rancho only furthered the silent response to the abuse Teresita suffers. Only someone in power like Tomás could actually cause any action to be taken against Tía, but he doesn’t stoop to dealing with the situation. In fact, he doesn’t even know it happens. The media and advocacy presence of America today starkly contrasts the mindset of the late 1800s. Any reader back then would have surely reacted negatively, but not nearly to the same degree.

One reason for why the cession does not triumph the annexation of Texas is because of manifest destiny. Manifest destiny played a crucial role in the history of Texas, such as breaking apart from Mexican authority to form an independent nation. After the nation was established, the government would last for about another ten years until the decision came to voluntary become a state under American rule. Once America annexed the region of Texas, Mexico immediately responded back with placing troops on the border of

This concept was beyond Johnson and his advisors, who mistakenly assumed the values of the Communists (Karnow 415). The alternative of withdrawal from Vietnam was unacceptable, a powerful Cold War mindset in American opinion supported a strong commitment to defending South Vietnam (Logevall 17). Johnson took control of a difficult Vietnam problem from Kennedy, ultimately running his presidency aground (Logevall

Thirdly, a second reason the Mexican War was not justified because US soldiers were in a disputed area. According to Jesus Velasco Marquez from “A Mexican Viewpoint on the War With the United States,” he states that “From Mexico’s point of view, the annexation of Texas to the United States was inadmissible for both legal and security reasons.” As well as, “The American government acted like a bandit who came upon a

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the war between the U.S. and Mexico. This war was initiated by the United States and resulted in Mexico 's defeat and the loss of nearly 60 percent of its territory in the north. In the U.S. the war is termed the Mexican–American War, also known as the Mexican War, the U.S.–Mexican War or the Invasion of Mexico. In Mexico names for the war include Primera intervención estadounidense en México, Guerra de la Invasión estadounidense, and Guerra del 1847. Nonetheless, the Mexican American War was unjust because of President Polk’s thirst for more territory.

America should NOT have gone to war or annexed Texas. I call it a “pointless war”. The outcome had more cons than pros. Of course Mexico and America were having problems even before the annexation of Texas with where the Mexican-American border was. In document C Mexico calls the war “The American Invasion”.

Treat, an expatriate who used to live in both Mexico and Central America was actively but unsuccessfully attempting to peacefully negotiate the annexation of Texas through his personal relationships. Through his travels he was able to foster relationships with various public officials. Treat knew they would never willingly accept a peaceful resolution unless they were going to receive some sort of personal gain. These personal connections are the precise reason Lamar appointed him to this position. By October 1840 the harsh realization presented itself with the Mexican government rejected the Texas proposition.

Gun shots were heard as U.S. troops and Mexican troops fought. As a result, James Polk, the president of the United States at the time, declared war on Mexico. The U.S. was not justified into going into war with Mexico because the Annexation of Texas and California was unofficial, Texas unfairly changed its borders after winning its