Mexican American War Essay Thesis

When Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1821, a string of ruthless dictators and weak presidents made Mexico an easy target for its powerful neighbor, the United States. The US swooped in to expand its territory and its popular institution of slavery. By doing so, the US started a war with Mexico that was justified for illegitimate reasons. The Mexican-American War was not justified because the US took Mexico’s land for the expansion of slavery, and justified their taking advantage of Mexico when it was politically weak by hiding behind Manifest Destiny.

It was April 25, 1846. The Mexican military invaded Texas, a disputed territory. When the U.S. military came to attack, the Mexicans killed 16 Americans. This is one of the many events leading to the Mexican American War. The Mexican-American War was a major war over Mexico’s land. This war happened mainly because the U.S. wanted to expand to the Pacific Ocean to fulfill their Manifest Destiny, trying to take away Mexico’s land. Mexico refused to to give land to the U.S. The big question is whether the U.S. was justified in fighting Mexico in the Mexican-American War. The United States was justified in going to war with Mexico because Manifest Destiny, too much Mexican interference, and Texas was invaded.

The Mexican-American War was the first war to be fought mostly on foreign soil. During this period, the newly formed the United States was eagerly seeking to expand their territory towards the west. When failed attempts to obtain lands by purchasing them from Mexico for the price of $30,000,000 dollars. The U.S. government felt there was little hope of gaining these territories by peaceful means, a war was inevitable. Mexico was still bitter despite Texas gaining their independence in 1836, voluntarily selling their lands to the United States was not an option. The Mexican-American War was a fascinating part of our history that is filled with negotiations, conquests, deceit, failed battles, and unsurpassed victory.

The Mexican-American war altered the United States environmentally, culturally and politically. First, on February 2, 1848, Mexico signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo two years post the beginning of the war. The treaty not only achieved President Polk’s goal to achieve California from Mexico but also granted the U.S. over 500,000 square miles of new territory. The new land caused approximately 90,000 spanish speaking, mostly Catholic Mexicans under American jurisdiction. Second, Nativism, a rising anti-catholic and anti-immigrant deemed the Mexicans inferior. Third, a new political party specifically dedicated to Nativism erupted called The American Party was established in 1855. In addition, due to the controversial war, President Polk

By the 1900s, the word Manifest Destiny was everywhere. Every American believed that the expansion of the US was a “God-given right.” America had already doubled its size through the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, but it had gotten another opportunity to expand in 1846. Texas had declared independence from Mexico in 1845, and applied for statehood. Ten years later, it was accepted into the Union and became one of the US states (province). Around this time, James K. Polk was president. Polk wanted much more of Texas, plus, he had his eye on California as well. Polk was a strong believer in Manifest Destiny and that was why he wanted to declare war on Mexico. The majority of Congress voted to declare war and it was put into action. The one question

The United States war with Mexico was over 160 years ago and still continues to be a divisive and widely debated topic, was it justifiable or not? The first war to be fought mostly on foreign land, was the Mexican-American War that started in 1846. America, lead by President Polk, who believed the U.S had a “manifest destiny”, fought against Mexico who had a weak military and was politically divided. After the war ended in 1848, Mexico lost one-third of its territory which included present-day California, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico. Although the United States war against Mexico resulted in the gaining of America’s most valuable land, the war itself was unjust because their goal was to expand slavery, Texas was wrong from the beginning, and the war was based on false pretenses.

The United States fought with vigor, but they were no match for the Mexican soldiers, the shot that killed Davy Crockett was heard around the village. The Mexican-American war was from 1846-1848 but problems started to arouses before that. The Mexicans and the Americans both thought that the land was theirs. The Mexican claimed it but the Americans believed in Manifest destiny which means that the land was a gift from God. Although the United States war against Mexico resulted in the gaining of American’s most valuable land, the war itself was unjust because the Texas was wrong from the beginning, the war was based on false pretenses, and the expanding of slavery was the goal.

The Texas Revolution, or otherwise known as the Texas War of Independence, was the military conflict between the government of Mexico, which was led by General Santa Anna, versus Texas colonists. The Texas Revolution began October 2, 1835 and it resulted in the creation of the Republic of Texas after the final battle at Vince's Bridge on April 21, 1836. The Battle of The Alamo was the most famous battle during the Texas Revolution however the Goliad Massacre was also a most notorious event involving the execution of over 350 Texans who had been forced to surrender to the Mexican army of Santa Anna

The Mexican War, commonly known as the Mexican-American War, was the war fought by the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. Controversy surrounding the annexation of Texas to the United States predicted war with Mexico and swayed the votes of candidates during the Election of 1844. During the Election of 1844, James K. Polk, an advocate for expansionism, campaigned against Henry Clay, who was in opposition of adding Texas to the Union. Clay lost many of his voters when he tried to encourage the voters to rally against Texas’ annexation. Eventually, Polk assumed the role as president after defeating Clay in the rather close Election of 1844. As president, Polk sought to obtain Texas, Oregon, and the entire Southwest region. While the

The Mexican-American War was a war fought between the United States and Mexico during the years 1846-1848. It was the first American war that took place in another country that being Mexico. It pitted a politically divided and militarily unprepared Mexico against the expansionist-minded administration of U.S. President James K. Polk, who believed the United States had a “manifest destiny” to spread across the continent to the Pacific Ocean (History.com) Manifest Destiny was a term used in the 19th century in which Americans felt that it was their destiny and right ‘by god’ to expand their country from coast to coast. President Polk felt the United States needed a westward expansion and the territories he wanted were: California, New Mexico

Wars are waged for one reason and one reason only: land. The Mexican War was a war fought between America is its weaker neighbor Mexico. It is often said that the person who started the Mexican War was President Polk. Growing up in Mississippi during the latter

Annexation of Texas in 1845 was about adding Texas to be a part of the United States. It would be the 28th state and it was on December 29, 1845. But before it happened there was a whole debate on adopting Texas. William Ellery Channing and John O’ Sullivan have different views on the annexation of Texas, they were either for it or against it. Their arguments for the annexation, Channing was for it and O’ Sullivan wasn’t. The U.S. delays the annexation of Texas because they didn’t want to ruin their relationship with Mexico. Mexico told the United States

The Mexican- American war was indeed a turning point for the slavery issue going on in the United States of America. America had become very self-conscious and their interests became antagonistic in the future of determining the future for the new land gained from Mexico (Document 2). Before the Mexican-American war the president during the time, Polk wanted to acquire California after signing a treaty for half of Oregon. He tried to get California as part of the United States in a peaceful manner but failed. Soon after failing to get California he turned to war. After winning the Mexican-American war and the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo the United States had gotten territories now know as Arizona, California, New Mexico, and parts of Wyoming,

In 1846 The Mexican-American War began lasting till 1848. The United States acquisitive need for more land was their only motive for starting a war with Mexico. The United States started an unjustified war with the newly independent country just more territory.

Between the United State of America and Mexico there are many differences in how the war from 1846 to 1848 occurred. One calls it the Mexican-American War, while the others calls it the American Invasion. Based on a territory perspective America took advantage of Mexico, and the president of the United States tempted the Mexican President to declare war in order to take their land. While I am proud to be an American, this war was sought out by America to gain land and expand westward.