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Manifest Destiny And The Mexican-American War

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The Mexican- American War took place place from 1846-1848. The war marked the first U.S conflict that was ever fought on foreign soil. Mexico entered the war with a politically divided country and an unprepared military. The U.S president James K. Polk and administration believed that the United States had a “manifest destiny” to spread across the North American continent to the Pacific Ocean. The Mexican-American War was a fight for land under the age of God that resulted in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo along with the destruction of Mexico, yet the strengthening of the United States. James K. Polk and the United States administration believed they had a “manifest destiny”. Manifest Destiny is a phrase that was used by leaders and politicians …show more content…

Stephen W. Kearny, were quick to conquer the lands north of the Rio grande due to only about 75,000 Mexican citizens living there at the time. However, General Taylor had a difficult time capturing Monterrey in September. Mexico knew they were losing so they turned to exile Antonia Lopez de Santa Anna who was living in Cuba. Santa Anna persuaded the United States to allow him to return to Mexico with the plan to end the war on terms favorable to the United States. When Santa Anna arrived he betrayed Polk and took control of the Mexican Army. Santa Anna lead the Battle of Buena Vista, but suffered many soldiers deaths, so he was forced to withdraw. U.S troops took the opportunity to take over the city of Veracruz lead by General Winfield Scott. Then then marched toward Mexico City. Mexico tried to resist U.S forces at Cerro Gordo and many other lands along the way, but were defeated every time. On September 1847, General Winfield Scott successfully conquered Mexico’s City of Chapultepec Castle. Guerilla attacks on the U.S. supply line continued, but everyone knew the war had ended. Santa Anna reigned as Mexico’s war leader and the United States waited for new authority to rise in order to start formal negotiations with

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The American-Mexican war commenced in the year 1846 and lasted until 1848. The whole war began because of a strained relationship, between United States and Mexico. Which came to be, when Texas, gave part of Mexico 's land to the United States, when they had no right to declare themselves as part of the U.S.A. In the end, many Americans citizens did not support the war, but their was also many that did supported it. Their was a painting called manifest destiny the artist name was John Gast. The symbolic meaning behind this painting was

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“In exchange for his freedom, Santa Anna signed a treaty recognizing Texas’ independence” (Battle of San Jacinto, 2015). General Houston and his army were heavly inspired for victory following the massacres at the Alamo and Goliad. Santa Anna lost the Battle of San Jacinto due his previous viciousness, arrogance, and misuse of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) assets effectively. Had Santa Anna not made these mistakes, the Battle of San Jacinto would have turned out differently and Texas may have not won its independence from Mexico (Wright, n.d.). Introduction

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Whatever its true purpose, Manifest Destiny has indeed stretched the U.S territory and seized half of Mexico’s land. On the contrary, Manifest Destiny resulted in a conflict with

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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.

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Film "Arizona Mexican Heritage: An American Story" The creation of the video stared with Pete Dimas personal experience upon his childhood, family and Mexicans in Arizona. Dimas notice in school that there were a small number of Chicanos, there wasn’t hardly any, not even in books there where unviable. With his knowledge he gave life to Chicanos and gave a brief introduction of the transformation of the United Sated of America by making this film "Arizona Mexican Heritage: An American Story" proving that Chicanos exist in the pass, now and future in the territory of what’s now America.

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The Mexican American War started in 1846 because of Mexican resentment caused by the 1836 loss of Texas and the American’s desire for Mexico’s more northern territory. “On September 9, 1847 after two years of fighting, the Mexican American war essentially ended when the American Army captured Mexico City after the Battle of Chapultepec”( 6). The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the war. United States leaders then acted morally superior in their negotiations of the treaty 1. During negotiations, United States officials viewed the “forcible incorporations” (1) of almost one half of Mexico’s land as an “event foreordained by providence and Manifest Destiny” (1).

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Manifest destiny also affected the relationship with Mexico. Several factors led to the Mexican- American War in 1846. The factors were that the U.S citizens were moving into California and Mexico. Since there were many revolutions happening in Mexico throughout this time period the Mexican government was not able to protect the U.S citizens in this region. Another factor was that Mexico was upset that Texas declared independence from them and then the U. S annexed Texas in 1845.

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Furthermore, the war ended by the signing of The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and after millions of lives lost and being responsible for the start of it all, Santa Anna did not show any type of empathy towards his and fallen country. Additionally, the treaty signed at Guadalupe Hidalgo would not only leave Mexico in utter humiliation, but it would bring forth a separate country, rather than one of unity. I think that Santa Anna utilized his power, as president to give his final blow and sell the Mesilla Valley, his actions would be seen as a dictator who acts upon his own benefit and not what is best for his country. In conclusion, I believe that Santa Anna resorting to authoritarianism led to México losing the war.

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The phrase “manifest destiny” was in the air, exciting United State citizens. President James Polk declared that it was America’s right to expand to the Pacific Ocean. However, the land west from Texas was Mexican soil. As a result, the United States asked to buy the California territory. When Mexico declined their offer, President James Polk needed an excuse to go to war with Mexico to steal California right from underneath them.

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Mexico would not tolerate this discrepancy of borderlines and attacked the U.S. With the belief that Mexico had invaded American territory, Polk went to Congress to request a declaration of war, which he was granted. The Americans came out victorious in this war that lasted about two

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policy towards the Mexican War of 1846. Dominated by the editors who strongly believed the concept of Manifest Destiny, the United States Democratic Review justified the war with Mexico. In the article titled, The Mexican War - Its Origin and Conduct, the author listed several reasons to war against Mexico such as the annexation of Texas, boundary dispute, the threat to the U.S. economic interests in the region and above all, the U.S. expansionist policy towards the West. Deeply influenced by the ideas of Manifest Destiny, President Polk framed his foreign policy in his presidency and successfully fulfilled the God-given mission to stretch the U.S. territory as far as the Pacific region, negotiate with the Great Britain to acquire the Oregon territory and sign the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo with Mexico in 1848. Without the ideas of Manifest Destiny, the U.S. expansionism would not thrive, the newly born democratic nation would not increase his territory astronomically and the young republic would not have enough political and economic power to be a giant at the stage of international

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General Santa Anna marched north with a massive army, after the Texans had captured San Antonio. They overran the defenders at the Battle of the Alamo on March 6, 1836. The Mexicans were defeated at the Battle of San Jacinto. Santa Anna was captured, which led to Texas independence. Mexico still tried to reclaim Texas in the following years, but essentially Texas joined the U.S in the year

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The idea of Manifest Destiny was centered around the idea that God wanted the US to expand as much as possible because the US had a superior way of life. The US justified their cruel actions towards Mexico because they were “destined” to act accordingly. If Americans truly believed that all people were created equal, then Manifest Destiny was not a plausible idea. Manifest Destiny created a hierarchy system in which the US was on top; a hierarchy was the opposite of a society or world where all people were created equal. Therefore, the US did not have such superiority to Mexico that God thought it was acceptable for Americans to act like they were allowed to trample on Mexico’s government

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At that time, only about 75,000 Mexican citizens lived north of the Rio Grande. As a result, U.S. forces led by Stephen W. Kearny and Robert F. Stockton were able to conquer those lands. Taylor advancing, and captured Monterrey in September. With the losses adding up, Mexico turned to old standby General Antonio López de Santa Anna, the strongman who had been living in exile in Cuba. Santa Anna convinced Polk that, if allowed to return to Mexico, he would end the war on terms positive to the United States.

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The United States war with Mexico continues to be a divisive topic among many people because of its background. The Mexican-American war was a fight between Mexico and America for land. America’s belief at the time was Manifest Destiny, which meant that they believed that America should extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific ocean. In the end, America benefited from the war and got the land. The United States expanded its size, achieving their dream of Manifest Destiny.

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