In the year 1846 America went to war with Mexico over a simple land dispute. Quite like children they fought over boundaries and borders. The land in dispute in the beginning was Texas, but then it grew to include much much more land, enough to double the size of America and basically half Mexico. America made claims, Mexico refuted them and the United States took charge anyway, attempting underhandedly to get Mexico to act against the political bullying, making war justifiable. All in all a rather undignified encounter. The United States was not justified in going to war with Mexico. In Document A John L. O’Sullivan said, “..our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence (God)...” During this time period America was …show more content…
Sullivan also said, “Imbecile and distracted, Mexico never can exert any real government authority over such a country...The Anglo-Saxon...marking its trail…” (Document A). Many Americans believed all other races and nations were subpar and had no right to North American lands. They assumed that any non-anglo-saxon, or non-American was unintelligent and unable to keep control of any substantial responsibility. This incredibly selfish mental state caused not only the Mexican-American War but also several much smaller indian wars, they thought white Americans were the only ones with rights or intelligence, they saw color of skin as a mental and character …show more content…
Polk’s flowery language and fake solemn tone, after he started a fight, and did not believe in manifest destiny. Polk made a beautiful speech assuaging America of any guilt in the matter and blaming Mexico for everything, but people like Charles Sumner in Document D were not taken in and did not agree with this forcible theft of land and the noncompliance to Mexican laws that eventually led to the first hostilities. In Document D he rebukes Polk’s war address that denies American guilt and states, “...defiance of the Mexican ordinance…[and]...the lust of territorial robbery...in seeking extension of slavery, (our own citizens denied) the great truths of American freedom…” (Document D). He is explaining that America is in fact at fault for this war and the Mexican people were only protecting their laws. America was in such a hurry to get more slave land that it trampled the rights of other countries as given in the Monroe Doctrine. American people broke laws and stole land when
Between the years of 1846 to 1848, the first war started by America against another republic raged on. The Mexican-American war was mainly started by president James K. Polk, due to his belief in Manifest Destiny and his goal to fulfill it. But despite this war being “Mr. and Mrs. Polk 's war”, it reflected on the much of the population of America, specifically the way the country treated non-white people. Many injustices against non-white people occurred during this time period, slaves and the politics surrounding them were involved in the war, but a main group subject to the injustices were the Mexican citizens. In fact, many Americans considered Mexicans “but little removed above the negro”, as one Democratic newspaper put it.
This introduced the issue of territorial boundaries and the two countries fought over a disputed piece of land between the Rio Grande River and the Nueces River. Although The United States could be justified in going to war with Mexico because of manifest destiny, the United States was not justified in going to war with Mexico because they were responsible for provoking the Mexican army and the United States only wanted more land for the expansion of slavery.
In the war between Mexico and the United States, was from 1864-1848. The reason for this war was because the United States wanted to expand across the North America. Americans believe that they had the god given the right to expand across North America because they were more civilized also, more Americans were settling in western lands. The United States offered the Mexican government of large lump sum of money and Mexican Government refused to sell Half of the country. They saw America as a dangerous country and didn't want to reside next to them.
The current war being held between the United States and Mexico is not only unjust, but it is also another example of the Anglo Saxon need for possessions, and love of sovereignty. I as a former slave know all too well of this American love of supremacy, I was once shackled myself by the tyranny of slavery. I believe now Mexico may be America’s next victim of oppression, I fear that they may suffer the same fate as the slaves in America, when Mexico indisputably loses this war against America’s insatiable ambition for land. It can not be denied that President Polk has enticed Mexico into this War, with his unnecessary acts of aggression, such as his release of troops to the Mexican Border. It can be concluded that President Polk's and the
Joshua Giddings stated, “It has therefore become necessary to extend our dominions into Mexico in order to render slavery in Texas.” They overall had wrong intents and Mexico was not digging them. Joshua Giddings also stated “This war is waged against an unoffending people, without just or adequate cause, for the purposes of conquest; with the design to extend slavery; in violation of the Constitution, against the dictates of justice, of humanity, the sentiments of the age in which we live, and the precepts of the religion we profess.” This shows that all of this was them aiming towards the expansion of their slave market. This was another big cause of war because they wanted to expand a slave market while Mexico wanted no part in
Nugent says that Polk is: ignorant but not stupid, uncivilized, and a tennesian like A. Jackson. This lead to his greedy demands of wanting more land from Mexico after their victory. Nugent thought Polk up his demands and wanting all of Mexico. However, he was cut short by the Whigs and settled with Mexico quickly. Polk was greedy for more and more land because he was a narrow-minded bigot.
and Mexican forces had taken place in U.S. territory.” “Further, legislators were at odds over whether Polk had the right to unilaterally declare that a state of war
In Document B, President Polk said, “I had ordered and efficient military force to take a position...to meet a threatened invasion of Texas by the Mexican forces….invasion was threatened solely because Texas had determined….to annex herself to our Union,... it was plainly our duty to extend our protection over her citizens and soil.” President Polk then mentioned the attack at the Rio del Norte, where the invasion in Texas happened. This evidence shows the US was justified in going to war with Mexico because Texas was invaded by Mexico, meaning that the U.S. should protect Texas by fighting
According to Charles Sumner from “Objections to the Mexican-American War,” states that “Slaveholders crossed the Sabine River with their slaves, in defiance of the Mexican Ordinance of Freedom.” Along with, “Certainly [Mexico]... might justly charge our citizens with disgraceful robbery, while, seeking an extension of slavery [our own citizens denied] the great truths of American freedom.” Furthermore, this evidence shows that the US was not justified in going to war with Mexico because Mexico did not allow slavery in their territory. The United States violated the Mexican Ordinance of
The United States war with Mexico continues to be a divisive topic due to the unjust and just reasons being argued. The Mexican & American War was the war between Mexico and the United States began because of disputed territory and Mexico shedding “American blood upon the American soil” although “American blood” wasn’t actually shed on “American soil.” The disputed territory was the area between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande that Mexico and the United States both claimed. It was also the area where 16 American soldiers were killed sparking the idea of the Declaration of War. The war against Mexico was unjustifiable because it went against the constitution, Texas was in the wrong, and the war was based on false pretense.
“it was God’s plan that America extend its territory.” (Roden 317) God wants America to take Texas. The Mexicans are “limiting our greatness checking the fulfillment of our Manifest Destiny” (O’Sullivan 323) People are wrongly stopping God’s plan. Later America got Texas, California, and Oregon Territory.(Roden 317)
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.
The United States war with Mexico continues to be a diverse topic because of the many acts that were considered logical and unforgivable. The Mexican-American War was a battle that went on from 1846 to 1848. The war was one of the first to be fought over greed and a presidential lie. Manifest Destiny, the belief of America spreading from the Atlantic Coast to the Pacific Coast, was one of the main reasons for this clash. Despite the United States war against Mexico resulted in the gaining of America’s most valuable land, the war itself was unjust because of Texans’ actions, the U.S. Government actions, and the expansion slavery.
The Mexican-American War changed the Unites States of America in a monumental way. This war changed The U.S.A.’s relationship with foreign powers and the economic standpoint of the nation. The Mexican- American war, and its strong ties to manifest destiny, shaped the nation in a country bordered by two seas with a chance for common folk and foreigners to have a sustainable life due to the gold rush. The war can also be accounted for the downfall leading to the Civil War over the conflict of slavery due to the land purchased in the wars treaty. Conflict between Mexico and the United States began when Texas, previously part of Mexico, became part of the United States.
Although the United States war against Mexico resulted in the gaining of America’s most valuable land, the war itself wasn’t legitimate because of the revolution in Texas, motivation for superiority, and the U.S. government’s actions. To begin, the Texans began an unreasonable war because they didn’t follow Mexico’s laws and conditions. When Mexico started selling cheap land, they set conditions for the people moving in. The people had to convert to Catholicism, learn Spanish, become a Mexican citizen, and have no slaves. Many Americans didn’t like being told what to do, and disobeyed the rules and laws.