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Mexico Is Not Manifest Destiny In The 1800's

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During the early to mid 1800’s, one of Mexico’s priorities was to encourage American farmers to settle in Texas, a Mexican province at the time, allowing the economic growth and benefit of both Countries. Little did the Mexicans know, having opposite beliefs, this would lead to one of the most important conflicts in history. Having engaged in war with Mexico, were the Americans justified? I believe the Americans were justified, especially with having Manifest Destiny playing an important role in the overtake of Mexico’s northern land. In the process of negotiation, American troops were shot and killed by the Mexicans because they believed it was a declaration of war. This expresses to the Americans, even from past events that Mexico is not …show more content…

A great number of Americans agreed with this idea, acting as an excellent source of motivation in the saving of California, Texas, and many other states. “Annexation,” by John L. O’Sullivan states, “[O]ther nations have undertaken… hostile interference against us,... hampering our power, limiting our greatness and checking the fulfillment of our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence [God].” From this, I can infer that Manifest Destiny was more of a power than an idea that was given to the citizens of America. President James Polk saw it as his duty to fulfill this while saving the land to the west in the process. Being protestant, being given a scripture of the U.S. from the east the west coast, it was important to follow what was …show more content…

John L. O’Sullivan’s “Annexation” mentions, “California will, probably, fall away from Mexico…. Imbecile and distracted, Mexico never can get any real government authority over such a country.” Although there is some bias, it is safe to say that, being a primary source, Mexico was unfit to govern such a large portion of land due to their inability to maintain a stable government. This is also brought up in Jesus Velasco-Marquez “A Mexican Viewpoint on the War with the United States”, “The Mexican government reaffirmed the instruction to protect the border, meaning the territory located between the Rio Grande and the Nueces River - an order which lead to the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma.” Poor leadership lead to these unnecessary conflicts. Even Mexico’s allowance for Americans to legally cross the border to Texas was a mistake that lead to a revolution within the

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