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James K. Polk's Manifest Destiny

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By the 1900s, the word Manifest Destiny was everywhere. Every American believed that the expansion of the US was a “God-given right.” America had already doubled its size through the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, but it had gotten another opportunity to expand in 1846. Texas had declared independence from Mexico in 1845, and applied for statehood. Ten years later, it was accepted into the Union and became one of the US states (province). Around this time, James K. Polk was president. Polk wanted much more of Texas, plus, he had his eye on California as well. Polk was a strong believer in Manifest Destiny and that was why he wanted to declare war on Mexico. The majority of Congress voted to declare war and it was put into action. The one question …show more content…

The US soldiers, who were commanded by General Zachary Taylor, arrived at the Rio Grande River. The land between the Rio Grande and Nueces Rivers were disputed because the Mexicans believed that the border between Texas and Mexico was the Nueces River and the Texans and Americans believed it was the Rio Grande River. This created confusion and conflict. Polk sent the American troops all the way past the Nueces River to the Rio Grande River. It was there that the American troops confronted the Mexican troops and they became engaged in a fight. After a while, “... sixteen [Americans] were killed and wounded…” (Doc B: War Message of President James Polk). Jesus Velasco- Marquez, a Mexican historian, stated that, “... In the eyes of the [Mexican] government, the mobilization of the US army was an outright attack on Mexico… As a consequence, the Mexican government reaffirmed the instruction to protect the border, meaning the territory located between the Rio Grande and the Nueces River” (Doc C: “A Mexican Viewpoint on the War With the United States”). The Mexican government was just protecting its borders and the soldiers were provoked, so they attacked the US soldiers. An article in the daily newspaper, El Tiempo, stated, “ The American government acted like a bandit who came upon a traveler” (Doc C: “A Mexican Viewpoint on the War With the …show more content…

The US has fought many wars, but this war was different. Even though the US expanded through the war, there was no reason for the war to occur. The only thing that the US got from this war was disrespect. The US got disrespect because there was no reason for a war to occur. There could have been a peaceful negotiation, but that didn’t happen. The US won many wars and has gained global recognition for it. It became a national power and it has had many victories, but the Mexican-American War was one of its

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This war happened mainly because the U.S. wanted to expand to the Pacific Ocean to fulfill their Manifest Destiny, trying to take away Mexico’s land. Mexico refused to to give land to the U.S. The big question is whether the U.S. was justified in fighting Mexico in the Mexican-American War. The United States was justified in going to war with Mexico because Manifest Destiny, too much Mexican interference, and Texas was invaded. One reason the Mexican War was justified was Manifest Destiny. In Document A, John O’Sullivan writes: “Texas is now ours...Let their reception into the “family be frank, kindly, and cheerful….”

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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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Thirdly, a second reason the Mexican War was not justified because US soldiers were in a disputed area. According to Jesus Velasco Marquez from “A Mexican Viewpoint on the War With the United States,” he states that “From Mexico’s point of view, the annexation of Texas to the United States was inadmissible for both legal and security reasons.” As well as, “The American government acted like a bandit who came upon a

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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.

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The Mexican government believed they still owned Texas, so they treated Texas ' citizens like Mexicans, so America came in to protect the rights of the Anglos. " Texas is now ours...." (Doc. A) "Texas had determined... to annex herself to Our Union; and under these circumstances, it was plainly our duty to extend our protection over her citizens and soil." (Doc. B) Texas belonged to the US, therefore it was only right that the United States defend them.

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The Mexican-American war altered the United States environmentally, culturally and politically. First, on February 2, 1848, Mexico signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo two years post the beginning of the war. The treaty not only achieved President Polk’s goal to achieve California from Mexico but also granted the U.S. over 500,000 square miles of new territory. The new land caused approximately 90,000 spanish speaking, mostly Catholic Mexicans under American jurisdiction. Second, Nativism, a rising anti-catholic and anti-immigrant deemed the Mexicans inferior.

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More so because of the Texas revolution that happened years earlier. The border of Texas had not been originally confirmed or settled. The U.S then as written, journeyed out to claim the land there selves The Mexican war began at the time and year when James Polk was elected as president. Year 1845, James Polk offered a proposition to the Mexican government.

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Throughout the years of 1807-1910, there was a lot of tension and confusion within the United States. The major factor that prompted the U.S. expansion was they wanted to expand and make their borders known. An agreement called the Missouri Compromise was passed by Congress in 1820.This compromise admitted the states in pairs, one slaveholding and one free. Then in 1857 the Supreme Court ruled that Congress had no right to prohibit slavery in the territories.

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Since the Mexican people were not able to vote when Santa Anna gave away Texas, they felt as if the US took advantage of them when Santa Anna was president. Mexico did not see the war as a dual sided conflict. To Mexico, the war was an invasion of the weaker by the stronger, and at a time when Mexico was vulnerable

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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.

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This war created a bad relationship between the U.S.A and Mexico. During the war, the daily paper, "El Republicano"

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1171 Words | 5 Pages

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

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925 Words | 4 Pages

The United States of America has been through many wars, wars concerning many things such as land oil, pride and respect. However, when the United States went to war with Mexico, it was planned over greed. The Mexican- American war was a war provoked by the United States, in efforts to expand the coasts of the country. Mexico was a small underprivileged country who had previously to the war had already lost part of their country (Texas). Needless to say this war was cut throat and violent, it was however one of the smartest business decisions America has ever made.

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1083 Words | 5 Pages

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.

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568 Words | 3 Pages

As stated before, the US was justified in going to war with Mexico because of three reasons, Americans were killed, Texas was already annexed, and Manifest Destiny allows it. The United states had many superb reasons for going to war with Mexico. This essay is significant because it helps explain the United States’ choice to go to war with

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