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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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