US Expansion

Polk then ordered General Zachary Taylor to occupy disputed territory near the Rio Grande River. Polk did this hoping to spark Mexico into hostile action so there was more reason for the war. Mexican troops then attacked General Zachary Taylor’s troops near the Rio Grande. The Senate and House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to declare war on Mexico, however, American forces were stronger than Mexican forces so they could easily take areas. The United States took an area, that is now known as New Mexico.

The United States was justified in going to war with Mexico because Manifest Destiny, too much Mexican interference, and Texas was invaded. One reason the Mexican War was justified was Manifest Destiny. In Document A, John O’Sullivan writes: “Texas is now ours...Let their reception into the “family be frank, kindly, and cheerful….” He also wrote that we have “our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions.” This evidence shows the U.S. was justified in going to war because of Manifest Destiny, which eventually expanded the U.S. This was said to improve the American economy. A second reason the

forces quickly occupied Santa Fe de Nuevo México and Alta California Territory, then invaded parts of Northeastern Mexico and Northwest Mexico; meanwhile, the Pacific Squadron conducted a blockade, and took control of several garrisons on the Pacific coast farther south in Baja California Territory. Another U.S. army, under General Winfield Scott captured the capital Mexico City, marching from the port of Veracruz, virtually unopposed. The war ended in a victory for the United States. During this period, the leadership of the Mexican Army changed frequently. Political factionalism was intensely divisive and led at one point to open civil war in the capital.

Of course a fight broke out. We know that Mexico attacked first, but America came back at them with something worse. President James Polk was pro manifest destiny. That means he believed that G-d wanted the Americans to spread throughout the whole continent. James Polk of course wanted to annex Texas.

They allowed Americans to settle in Texas, but Americans began overwhelming Texas. Soon, Americans in Texas wanted to declare independence from Spain because of the prohibition of slavery. After a war, they annexed Texas to America, and Mexico was angry at America. America went further and declared war against Mexico. But was America justified to wage war against Mexico?

But the U.S had the idea of "Manifest Destiny." It was that the U.S believed that they had the right to expand westward to the Pacific ocean. But on the other hand, Mexico wanted to settle further north along the pacific coast. In the 1500’s, the Spanish had conquered and settled Central Mexico. Now they wanted to expand their land north.

The Louisiana Purchase Dear Editor: I think that Thomas Jefferson and the United States Government should buy the port of New Orleans because they need the get the port so that we can trade and expand the United States. One of the vast reasons that we bought the hefty territory was that we wanted total control of the New Orleans port so we could further our trade. We wanted to be in total control of the port because they stopped our trade and we needed to import and export goods. Another reason was the we wanted the port so we could trade whenever and no one could stop out trade. Another reason we bought the Louisiana Purchase was to admit more states.

American troops were sent to southern Texas to only result in meeting the same set of foes. 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

During that time,New Mexico was part of Mexico. Nevertheless, Santa Fe Trail played an important role as it established trade along the route and also provided a good and fast transportation from United States to West. In 1846, the border disagreement between Texas and Mexico led to Mexican-American War. Mexicans were unexperienced,poorly equipped and poor leadership.Therefore, United States won the war.The war ended with Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.The treaty must be fully credited to Nicholas P.Trist who had a high patience and encouragement even though President Polk ordered him to cancel the commission with Mexico. In 1850, New Mexico was under territory of United States.

This treaty not only ended the war, but formally acknowledged Texas as part of United States territory and allowed the U.S. to expand their boundaries further west. There are an endless amount of people who will argue the significance of the Mexican War. This war showed the strength of the American army. Although there were where the U.S. did not seem strong, they cannot argue with the fact that they gained the state Texas and expanded boundaries. Those accomplishments were not only major for the U.S. army, but for the people of the nation as well.

During this time Manifest Destiny was commonly referred to as Continentalism although the United States looked to expand west rather north into Canada. During the 1840’s the United States found itself in conflict with the British and the Mexicans over occupation of the Oregon and Texas territories, respectively. The conflict with the British would end peacefully, with a divide of the Oregon territory along the forty-ninth parralel. This was beneficial to the United States who already knew they were going to war with Mexico over their annexation of the Texas territory. During this war with Mexico the United States would see a great deal of success which would lead to many Americans, primarily politicians, promoting the idea of annexing all of Mexico rather than just the portion known as Texas.

They they start applying for annexation to the US. Texas was actually two times the size back then then it is today. It stretched as far north as states today such as Colorado, Kansas, and even Nebraska. The United States was justified in going to war with Mexico because of American soldiers being killed innocently by Mexican troops, Mexico can 't govern well, and because of Manifest Destiny. In 1821 Mexico declared itself free from their mother country of Spain.

During this time California’s population grew extremely fast do to the gold rush. Millard Fillmore became the accidental president he said he was going to change Taylor’s policy because he was all wrong about the compromise of 1850 because he believed that abolition would lead to a collapse of the southern economy he also believed that slavery was protected by the constitution.