It was basically a treaty "friendship" and settlement between the United States and Mexican republics. Rio Grande became a border between Texas and Mexico, James Polk wanted more territory and eventually he accomplished it. For some "big bucks" Polk gained New Mexico, California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and Colorado at the
By expanding to the west coast, Oregon specifically, the United States hoped to begin trade with Asian countries. As tensions increased in Texas, mainly over what territory had control over Texas, war was becoming more and more likely. documents G and H both touch on the subject of the Mexican-American War, with Document G being created before the war was declared, and Document H being proposed after the war ended. Document G showed how the United State’s main goal in the impending Mexican-American War was the acquisition of new territory, Texas in particular. This acquisition was proposed in a positive light after it was stated that the territory of Texas was, “...free land of ours the means to spread the light of the Gospel… (Document G).”
In the dark game, the secretary wrote a letter in code to the Mexicans to get them to fight in the war and invade the US. But the Mexicans were working with people that knew
We shall endeavor in spite of this to keep the United States of America neutral. In the event of this not succeeding, we make Mexico a proposal of alliance on the following basis: make war together, make peace together, generous financial support and an understanding on our part that Mexico is to reconquer the lost territory in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. The settlement in detail is left to you” (Zimmerman, 1). This phrase cut out from the actual document shows Germanys real intentions in the war, and is already preparing to go to war with the United States. It was obvious to President Wilson that the Germans were not going to back down, so he called the new Congress into session prematurely and asked for a declaration of war on April 2nd.
In Document B, President Polk said, “I had ordered and efficient military force to take a position...to meet a threatened invasion of Texas by the Mexican forces….invasion was threatened solely because Texas had determined….to annex herself to our Union,... it was plainly our duty to extend our protection over her citizens and soil.” President Polk then mentioned the attack at the Rio del Norte, where the invasion in Texas happened. This evidence shows the US was justified in going to war with Mexico because Texas was invaded by Mexico, meaning that the U.S. should protect Texas by fighting
However, their other possible reasons why the U.S. declared war on May 13, 1846, despite no official declaration of war from Mexico. According to Jennings, “If the war against Mexico demonstrated the potential for the Army to lead multifaceted teams to decisively win on distant and unfamiliar terrain, future endeavors in far-flung theaters will surely provide the opposite, and ultimately crucible, to do so once again” (48). If the U.S. were to be victorious in this campaign, then they would feel confident in future war endeavors. During this campaign, even though the U.S. was winning over the ill-prepared Mexican army, President Polk was blindsided by exiled General Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana who claimed that he was able to make peaceful negotiations with Mexico; if he was able to return.
If this attempt is unsuccessful, we propose an alliance with Mexico.” this information is found in document H. the reason the US would have to join the war for this is because they felt personally attacked by the germans saying to mexico that is the united states decided to join the war and no longer be neutral that they would attack the areas closest to them distracting the military which in turn Mexico would regain all of the land they lost in the spanish American war. To show that the United States would not be disrespected, they joined the war after a threat was introduced. Earlier in the beginning of the war before the Us became an Allied power President Woodrow Wilson wrote a letter to the congressmen saying that being neutral was the best option due to America being a “place drawn from many nations, and chiefly from the nations now at war “. He also realized that if we went to war and had to choose a side to defend it would cause the United states to fall apart due to the citizens having different opinions on the war, and what should be done; this information was found on the document
What was the effect of the Zimmerman Telegram on American public opinion on the war? 696-697 The Zimmerman Telegram made it clear to the United States that Germany was preparing for the United States to join the war. Germany made a bold move by trying to form an alliance with Mexico as a way of weakening the US once they enter the war, but Mexico declined Germany’s offer. At that point in time, entering the war was inevitable. What were the 14 points?
The Zimmermann telegram is what finalized that America was declaring war. It was publicized in 1917 and a month later America declared war, because the telegram was a message from Germany asking Mexico to help attack America to get reparations from the Mexican-American War (pg 730 Give Me Liberty). The telegram was a public way that Britain showed America that they were being targeted and helped America officially choose a side to fight in the war. The president was already leaning more toward fighting with the British because of economic reasons and his own heritage. If Britain lost the war, the over $2 billion in wartime loans that America gave by 1915 could be lost (pg 729 Give Me Liberty).
Although the First World War did not involve the United States, subsequent events lead to their later involvement in the worldwide battle. The Zimmerman telegram Germany proposed a deal to Mexico in essence saying that if Mexico helped Germany attack the United States, Germany would allow Mexico to regain ownership of the land that they had lost in the past to the United States, while also receiving a large amount of financial compensations for their cooperation. British agents had intercepted the telegram in January of 1917. When the telegram was intercepted the Germans mistakenly found it relatively safe to send messages to the western hemisphere because United States President, Woodrow Wilson, had given Germany the privilege to send messages
“We shall endeavor in spite of this to keep the U.S. neutral,” Germany’s goal is to keep away from war with the United States, and in if for some reason this fails, they agreed to an alliance with Mexico. “Make war together, make peace together…” with such things proposed, if either go to war or conquer other territories, both are willing to help each-other. Arthur Zimmermann was aiming to create an alliance between Mexico and Germany, considering they would need the help to win this war. There were offerings of large deals of financial support and the idea that Germany will help Mexico in battling “Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico” territories if the war was won. Overall, this document stated that “...as soon as the outbreak of war with the U.S. is certain..” the President of Mexico will be informed about the planned submarine warfare attack.
This war created a bad relationship between the U.S.A and Mexico. During the war, the daily paper, "El Republicano"
However the critics opposing war were mainly from the Midwest and West that saw European conflict as a distant battle and the U.S. shouldn’t get involved. Woodrow Wilson didn’t take any action as the election roamed near and it was crucial for him to maintain neutrality for re-election in 1916. Thereafter, Wilson’s re-election came the final blow to American neutrality; the Zimmerman Telegram. The Zimmerman Telegram was an offer made to the Mexican government by the Germans enticing them to join arms with them in return for the territories lost in the war of 1840s. When the American public learned about this proposal, it really antagonized the people who were opposed to war to join the battle.
The Mexican Government cannot shift the responsibility of war upon the United States, by assuming that we are aggressors… they refused to meet with our envoy, who was present." Mexico wouldn't
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
