In Rachel St. John’s book, “Line in the Sand: A History of the Western U.S.-Mexico Border,” the author offers up “a history of how and why the border changed” (St. John 1). This is her central thesis that she presents, providing evidence and historical context concerning the border and its changes over the course of the late 1800s to the mid-1900s. In seven chapters plus and introduction providing more general information and a conclusion that brings the U.S.-Mexico border situation into the present day, Rachel St. John’s focus is both periodical and geographical. St. John moves across both space and time in her book, looking at how region and era affected the border situation and how these effects differed in significance. St. John takes
It involved the Sioux and Northern Cheyenne against the U.S. As gold was discovered in the area, settlers began to encroach onto Native American lands. The Agreement of 1877 annexed Sioux land and permanently established Indian reservations. No regard was given to the effects the agreement would have on the cultures of the Native American people. The Oglala Lakota is an example of a native community still dealing with this legacy.
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
The way they claimed annexed was by saying the Rio Grande was the southern boundary of Texas but Mexico said it was the Nueces River. In regards to the war, Americans were greatly divided. The northerners hated it because of the fact that Texas favored slavery. Those in the south liked the idea of a war because it would help expand to the west. This expansion would provide more land and opportunity.
Thus in second chapter Haynes describes the matter of on-going pro-bank and contra-bank debates and collision of the interests of supporting groups that were involved in B.U.S. case. In seventh chapter, the author gives detailed account on annexation of Oregon and Texas. He explains the basis of the disagreement between England and America about Oregon territory. Haynes thoroughly analyzes the status of Texas at that time, and the claims that Mexico and the United States had over it. Further he discusses possible consequences for every country involved into conflict, if England decided to
1. When did the “Aroostook War” occur & what was its cause? An explosive controversy of the early 1840s involved the Maine boundary dispute. The St. Lawrence River is icebound several months of the year, as the British, remembering the War of 1812, well knew.
Accordingly his proposition was to purchase distributed lands on the Nueces River and Rio Grande. More so, the Mexican government refused the proposition to give up the land. So then, the president James Polk sent out U.S troops, but the result didn’t come out as planned. Mexican troops attacked the American outpost and killed 12 soldiers, then capturing 52 of the
During the “Gilded Age” period of American history, development of the Trans-Mississippi west was crucial to fulfilling the American dream of manifest destiny and creating an identity which was distinctly American. Since the west is often associated with rugged pioneers and frontiersmen, there is an overarching idea of hardy American individualism. However, although these settlers were brave and helped to make America into what it is today, they heavily relied on federal support. It would not have been possible for white Americans to settle the Trans-Mississippi west without the US government removing Native Americans from their lands and placing them on reservations, offering land grants and incentives for people to move out west, and the
The causes of the Mexican-American war were the Annexation of Texas, Land Disputes between Mexico and the United States of America and President Polk’s Greed. The country of Mexico was upset and angry with the United States of America because they took the state of Texas away from them. The two continued to dispute over Southern Texas and the land between the rivers Rio Grande and Nueces. President Polk later sent a messenger to offer thirty-million dollars for the SouthWest. Mexico declined the offer and President Polk declared war on Mexico.
The Alaska Boundary Dispute The Alaska Boundary Dispute happened in the late 1800s and early 1900s, this is
At the end of the War Mexico had to ceced 55% of its land, and therefore the United States gained 520,000 square miles. The second event where Polk gained a good amount of land was the Oregon Treaty. This was a deal between the United States and Britain, where the United States wanted to have all the land in the Oregon region, instead of splitting it with Britain. James Polk was even willing to go to war with Great Britain again, in order to gain this land. After the treaty was signed the United States gained all the land in the Oregon Territory with the exception of Vancouver
During the 1840, the United States was able to access much more land in the west than previously before. The United States saw this as an opportunity to expand their territories and to settle and obtain all things the land has to offer. The United States justified their actions through the idea of Manifest Destiny, which they viewed to be a harmless and benevolent philosophy. Manifest Destiny was in fact not as benign as the United States has come to believe; it caused the colonization and imperialism of land that held many Natives who were eventually killed or sent into reservations. People in the southern region of the conquered land were greatly influenced by this expansion as well; it caused many families who were living in the Texas area
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
More conflict arose because the government didn’t stop coal miners from entering and mining on the sacred and sustainable lands of the indians, disregarding the treaty. Although the government attempted to buy the lands, the Sioux were reluctant in giving sacred lands to greedy miners moving westward. Rather than keeping peace as the treaties were intended to, they caused more conflict amongst the settlers and
A major continuity over time will always be shown in the world, even if an event took place years ago. In this standard many dates and time periods were stated. Wars broke out, new presidents took the stand, and a handful of laws were brought into place but were changed as time moved on. Even though these events were dated so long ago, they played a major role in the shaping of our nation. With the past events that occurred, these events are still practiced and used today.
