3) Polk wanted to negotiate with the United States and was willing to go to war against them for territory gains. He also states that with the act of the war they are fulfilling patriotism and their duty toward their own country. So that is what he tried to resolve the issues between Mexico and the United States. Polk believed in the idea of the Manifest Destiny which played an important factor in his actions.
1) The difference that Clays mention between the war of 182 and the Mexican war was people's perspectives. For the Mexican War he shows that it was gloomy and people questions why did they agree to go to war and that there was no need for it.While for the War of 1812, it was more like fighting against the British for the nation honor
President James K. Polk asked Congress for a declaration of war against Mexico because, as he said, “American blood had been shed on American soil”. President Polk wanted to gain some of Mexico’s territory. He decided to send someone to Mexico with an offer. The offer was that the United States would pay Mexico for the Texan boundary of the Rio Grande, New Mexico territory, and California. Mexico was not interested in the offer or selling the territory and refused the offer, which ended with an angry president Polk after learning their response.
a. The War with Mexico i. Polk wants control over ALL of Mexico, between Texas and Pacific Ocean- willing to go to war ii. Texas Republic accepted statehood in 1845=1845 Mexico broke off diplomatic relations with the US iii. Polk intimated Mexican Gov- Zachary Taylor occupy all the lands in the Nucese River and Rio Grande iv. Sent John Slidell to Mexico city- to secure Mexican acceptance of the Rio Grande boundary and to buy Mexico and CA- officials did not see him v. Alternate plan was to start a CA revolution (like Texas) to get independence and join the US vi. Polk ordered naval commanders to seize CA 's coastal towns (in case of war) and sent John C Fremont 's troops into Mexico vii.
First of all, Polk wanted the annexation of Texas, California, and New Mexico. He wanted all three preferably by purchase. Secondly, even though he is known for his expansions, he was known for his domestic issues as well; he greatly reduced tariff costs. Thirdly, he wanted to bring the United States
However, because he was so stubborn, he was willing to go to war to obtain it, thinking that the Mexicans would not put up much of a fight. Polk had, at first, hoped he could gain California from Mexico the same way he had gotten Oregon from Great Britain--with what is called “eyeball diplomacy,” staring at the opponent and expecting he would blink first. This tactic obviously did not work, which angered him. Economically, the United States was not fit for a war, especially a war in a foreign country. Though the Americans did win the war, their relationship with the Mexicans became poor.
After the war had ended, we as a nation had gained more power of Texas and all the South to North states. James K. Polk did this in which a war had broken out in Mexico over who had owned Texas. In which James K. Polk had handled this by a war in which the U.S. had won. We American look at this as a factor of power in our nation. James K. Polk soon then had died shortly after he had retired(biography.com).
The Mexican War was a violent and devastating event between United States and Mexico that lasted from 1846-1848. President Polk had to lie to congress, to make United States declare war on Mexico. Lincoln considered President Polk provoked as a vote-fixing device and hoped the arguments against the war would cause his reputation in the United States House of Representative. Lincoln claims President Polk misrepresented the whole thing that the Presidents Polk evidence was not true by any means. Lincoln lays out evidence that president Polk gave is either incorrect or irrelevant reasons to gain support from congress.
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. Polk stated that “The Mexican Government not only refused to receive him [the U.S. envoy] or listen to his propositions, but after a long-continued series of menaces have at last invaded our territory and shed the blood of our fellow-citizens on our own soil.
President James K. Polk wanted to expand the US into Mexican lands in the western part of the nation. He offered a large amount of money to cede California and New Mexico territories but Mexico declined the offer. President Polk began military exercises on the border and waters around Mexico. On May 9th, 1846, Mexico crossed the Rio Grande and attacked American officers as revenge. On May 11th, 1846, Mexico and America were at war; the US was overpowering Mexico because its army was stronger and well prepared.
As a Democrat, I believe that President Polk was justified in starting the Mexican-American War. Also, as a strong supporter of Manifest Destiny, also known as Western expansion, I furthermore find reason to believe Polk was justified in initiating war with the Mexican people; being that the Mexican government refused peaceful negotiation. The Americans were the just owners of this western land, and we intended to get it. The Mexican government refused a meeting with our representative to establish the border between Texas and Mexico, along with an offer of 30 million dollars for Western territory. These western territories would provide substantial economic growth for the United States, as well as the obvious: making our nation larger as
Another thing is that Polk deliberately sent a known spy (William Parrot) to Mexico for a diplomacy after Mexico made it clear that Parrot was not wanted. Did you know that Polk is trying to start war with the Mexicans, trying to make himself look all innocent. He only wants to go to war to gain land but, doesn't want his voters to know that. He tricks the U.S citizens
Polk spread the rumor that it was their “manifest destiny” to extend America’s territory to the Pacific Ocean. Historians today ask the question: Was the United States justified in going to war with Mexico? The United States was not justified, because the United States were greedy for land, “manifest destiny” is weak excuse, and because of the human cost. The United States had its eye on expand its territory and started with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.
Mexico desired that the United States relocate to their territory, but because the US did not follow these rules, Mexican officials became enraged and kicked them out. The third and final reason is that Polk provoked Mexico. He was a strong believer in Manifest Destiny. He believed that God planned to kick out Mexicans and let the USA grow more. He stole Texas from Mexico (Doc. B).
The major conflict of President James Polk's term was the Mexican War that began during his presidency on 1846, and ended in 1848. May 13, 1846 is when congress officially declared war on Mexico, but previously to the U.S. declaring war the United States had already won two battles. This war was popular among young men and men, many people wanted to enlist in the army that recruiting stations had to turn away a large amount of people. During the war president James Polk sent a diplomat by the name of Nicholas Trist to try and settle peace with the Mexicans, but had an unsuccessful arrangement with Santa Anna president of Mexico. Therefore the war continued but ended shortly after when the United States won the battle of Mexico
Mexico thought that the border was the Nueces River, while on the other hand, US believed it to be the Rio Grande which left a chunk of disputable land in-between. After Polk saw how the Mexicans had killed the Americans that he had sent to build forts [between the Nueces and the Rio Grande], he went to congress and asked congress into declaring war on Mexico (O'Brien). Mexico and the US went to war and since the US had settled the Oregon dispute it was easy for the US to end the war quickly. Both signed the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and Mexico also had to surrender control of New Mexico and California. Polk had successfully completed his first two action goals that he had made after his inauguration by getting both Oregon and
Manifest Destiny is a unique, yet mysterious fundamental series of events in American history. No other country’s history contains such an eventful history as the United States. Amy Greenberg’s book, Manifest Destiny and American Territorial Expansion, provides documented evidence that settlers believed they were destined for expansion throughout the continent. In other words, many religious settlers believed that it was a call from God for the United States to expand west. On the other hand, people believed that Manifest Destiny vindicated the war against Mexico.