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The Mexican-American War

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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. In Mexico, …show more content…

The Mexican-American War was started because the president Polk strongly believed that “Texas… was just a first step towards the realization of a far greater, God-given goal: that of a United States stretching from shore to shore, taking its place in the world as Europe’s equal.” This goal of a United States that has taken over a large portion of the North American continent is the idea of Manifest Destiny. It was a very common Democratic idea during that time, with many people agreeing with it and wanting to act upon it. So when Polk became president, he took the opportunity and it was a driving force behind the start of this war. But it was also a driving force behind the ending of this war. With the idea of Manifest Destiny, and that the United States has a God-Given right to North American Land, it is impossible not to perceive this as meaning white Americans are superior to the other residents of North America. And many Americans agreed with this perception, which becomes very impactful throughout the …show more content…

But despite this fear, some parts of Manifest Destiny did win. Ultimately, California was given to the United States by Mexico. America spanned from coast to coast, so part of Polk’s reason for beginning this war was fulfilled. But it can certainly not be said that this war was successful, many died, and the true nature of many Americans was revealed. Through the brutal murders and rapes commited by some of the highest class American men on Mexican citizens, and the racist reasons the American public wanted to end the Mexican Americans War, the true xenophobic nature of many Americans at that time can be

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