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Annexation of texas
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It was April 25, 1846. The Mexican military invaded Texas, a disputed territory. When the U.S. military came to attack, the Mexicans killed 16 Americans. This is one of the many events leading to the Mexican American War. The Mexican-American War was a major war over Mexico’s land.
The Mexican-American War was a war fought between the United States and Mexico during the years 1846-1848. It was the first American war that took place in another country that being Mexico. It pitted a politically divided and militarily unprepared Mexico against the expansionist-minded administration of U.S. President James K. Polk, who believed the United States had a “manifest destiny” to spread across the continent to the Pacific Ocean (History.com) Manifest Destiny was a term used in the 19th century in which Americans felt that it was their destiny and right ‘by god’ to expand their country from coast to coast. President Polk felt the United States needed a westward expansion and the territories he wanted were: California, New Mexico
Texas was part of Mexico, with the land being cheap Americans wanted to settle there and when Americans tried claiming it as their own he had to fight back just like anyone would. Americans were trying to take over and they disagreed with his laws therefore he was standing his ground. Later Santa Anna described in a letter that killing defenders of the Alamo was his only option. The letter blamed William Travis on the amount of violence that occurred. He stated that if Travis had not have been so disrespectful towards him that he would have allowed Sam Houston to establish a dominant presence
At the height of the Gilded Age, the want of power outside of the American borders controlled the causes and ends of war, specifically the Spanish-American War. A war that lead a country whose history was founded on independence to seek dominance over its own colonies. There were two clear opinions to this imperialist stance, for and against. Both opinions were ironically based in the same general ideas only with different perspectives on them. Arguments and questions based on morality, economic stability, and God given purposes.
The Spanish American War was a big step towards American War power and influenced foreign countries greatly with trade, naval power, and territory. The Era of the Spanish - American contributed to the advancement in trade for the United States. After the Hay-Pauncefote treaty with Britain was abolished, the U.S. was free to build a canal in Latin America with their help. The canal was set to be built in Panama, this canal was to benefit America to create ports free from tax in this country. This was granted when the Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty of 1903 gave rights over a 51 mile long and 10 mile wide Canal Zone to protect the U.S. With these rights American manufacturing exporting companies without any tariffs for the citizens of the States.
Jesús Velasco-Márquez, a modern-day Mexican professor of studies wrote an article in 2006 about the Mexican-American War. He said, “US historians refer to this event as ‘The Mexican-American War’, while in Mexico, we prefer to use the term ‘The U.S. Invasion... From Mexico’s point of view, the annexation of Texas to the United States was inadmissible for both legal and security reasons. ’’’ (Velasco-Márquez, 12). During the time of the independence of Texas, Mexico was ruled by the dictator General Antonio López de Santa Anna.
Background Description On February 23, 1836 Santa Anna and his troops arrived at San Antonio and started planning their attack on the Alamo. This would become one of the most celebrated military battles of Texas. The Alamo was a Spanish Mission that was established in 1718 as church. It became a makeshift fortification for Indians and rebels.
The Mexican War, The United States offered Mexico, California and Mexico for thirty million dollars. They did this because they wanted to expand their land West. This war contributed to the Texas and Mexico War because America had to expand given Manifest Destiny but Mexico refused to give them a land of their own. Later the Americans finally gained the Northern half of Mexico. It soon became California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and
The outbreak of the war affected New Mexico at once. Many army officers stationed in New Mexico resigned. They joined the Confederate armed forces. The outbreak of the war also had a more lasting effect on New Mexico. This was because of the plans of the South, These plans called for the conquest of New Mexico.
The Americans were more at fault for the start of the Mexican War. The Americans wanted to take land that was very valuable to Mexico. The land of Texas was very important to the Mexicans because that was where they lived. It wasn’t so forgotten plot of land that they owned, the Mexicans actually resided there. “At that time, only about 75,000 Mexican citizens lived north of the Rio Grande.”
Although there are always two sides to a war, Mexico proved to be more at fault when it came to the Mexican War. While in captivity, Santa Anna was forced to agree to the independence of Texas, but when returning to Mexico he denies their independence, ruining his integrity as a leader. If Santa Anna would have been loyal and acknowledged Texas’ freedom, there would have been little to no discord between Texas or even America. Although Mexico denied Texas’ liberty, numerous European nations such as Britain and France had acknowledged Texas as independent. Therefore, when America annexed Texas, they inevitably believed that Texas was independent.
The video The Mexican-American War was interesting to watch. I understand that any country would like to extend its territories, but I think President Polk should not have gone to the extreme of war. I really like how in the video, the U.S. was portrayed as a bully, who technically forced Mexico to give up its territory, something that was, in my opinion, not fair at all. Besides this, I absolutely agreed with the idea of none of the countries winning due to the amount of casualties. It is true that the U.S. “won” the war and got the territory it wanted, but at what cost though?
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.
I believe that the Mexicans caused the Mexican War because of their poor communication and they passed the boundary of the United States. The spot resolution say that Mexico has "invaded our territory, and shed the blood of our fellow citizens on our own soil. " This means that Mexico took the annexation the wrong way and they completely unmannerly of Americas property. Those whose blood was shed were the American soldiers defending the border of the new state of Texas. Also, there was so much miscommunication and Mexico kept blaming America for everything. "
The Mexicans were more responsible for starting the Mexican war for many reasons. First, Mexico breaks off all diplomatic relations with the US. Breaking off diplomatic relations is basically saying we want nothing to do with you guys anymore which brought a lot of tension between the two countries. Then John Slidell arrives in Mexico City, and when he gets there the Mexican government refuses to speak with him. This brought even more tension between the two countries because Mexico refused to compromise.