The Antebellum era was a consequential and significant time in the history of the United States. This period would shape the United States’s definition and identity as a whole. From after the war of 1812 to before the Civil War, the United States experienced exponential changes. These changes would alter both the physical growth of America as a country, and also the view of America as a whole. People started to see themselves as truly American citizens, as this period “unleashed the rapid growth of cities and industry and a torrent of expansion westward” (Mintz and McNeil). The Napoleonic Wars ended and so did a period of global war / revolution. The war of 1812 jump-started America’s mindset of westward expansion and dominance. This allowed …show more content…
First of all, most treaties made by Americans with Mexicans and Native Americans were unfair. American settlers would frequently confuse Native tribes when making treaties, or coerce the other party into signing away land (OLD TEXTBOOK). The treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was no different, as Mexico was likely coerced into signing off almost 55% of its territory (Perea). Mexico was an easy target for America, as the war had left them defeated. First, some background on the treaty itself and the lead-up to the war. The treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was a treaty of peace between Mexico and America after the Mexican-American War. This treaty was signed February 2, 1848 at the town of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, (Reeves). Our 11th president, James K. Polk, wanted to complete the manifest destiny vision for America, and made plans to annex the Mexican Cession. (Reeves). Polk knew Mexico couldn’t pay in cash, so they needed to pay in land. His logic was that “for the cession of New Mexico and California-how could so ‘feeble and distract a nation as Mexico’ refuse a liberal cash offer? The answer to that question was “war.” (Reeves). The Mexican-American war could also be viewed as unfair, as Mexico and America already have a controversial pretext: a dispute over the southern border of Texas. There was a disagreement between the U.S. and Mexico about Texas’s border, which had historically been the Nueces River (NEW TEXTBOOK). Also, the expansion and manic urge for more land on America’s part was the reason behind the treaty and war. This mindset of manifest destiny justified expansion and drove the war (OLD TEXTBOOK). After considering the events leading up to the Mexican-American War and the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, it is clear that things didn’t play out fairly for Mexico, due in part to America’s unjust
In “Antebellum Southern Exceptionalism: A New Look at an Old Question” James McPherson argues that the North and the South are two very different parts of the country in which have different ideologies, interests, and values. Mcpherson writes this to show the differences between the north and the south. He gives perspectives from other historians to show how the differently the differences were viewed. These differences included the north being more industrialized while the south was more agricultural. He gives evidence to how the differences between the north and south came together as the south produced tobacoo, rice, sugar and cotton, which was then sent to the north to be made into clothing or other fabrics. Mcpherson analyzes the differences
2) Was there any degree of autonomy in the lives of enslaved women in the revolutionary or antebellum America? Use the documents to address the question of whether or not an enslaved woman could protect the humanity and if so, explore how this might be achieved. Also include how the specific era (revolutionary or antebellum) affected her autonomy.
In February 2, 1848, the final armistice treaty Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, through which the United States government got the access to entire area of California, Nevada, Utah plus some territory in Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Wyoming. As a compensation, the United States government paid 18.25 million dollars to Mexico.( Pecquet, Gary M., and C. F. Thies. 2010) However, apart from the death of people, Mexico lost half of its territory in this war, which initiate Mexican’s hostile towards American. In addition, after the Mexican-American war, there was an absence of national sense in Mexican, which had a negative effect on the unity and development of the country.
was not justified to declare war with Mexico because of the ignorance of Mexican authority, the robbery of disputed/Mexican-owned land, and the order from Polk which provoked the war. The U.S. were allowed by Mexican government to settle into the provenance of Texas. After settling in the nutritious and fertile farmland, the U.S. settlers rebelled against Mexican law and established slavery in Texas. The U.S. robbed disputed/Mexican-owned land, which led to confusion spreading into Mexico and the U.S. because of unofficial borders. Polk provoked a Mexican attack by ordering soldiers onto Mexican borders, which led to the Mexicans attacking out of pressure.
Still the United States was still justified in going to war with Mexico. Mexico thought that they were at Texas first and that, that meant that they had the right to call the land theirs but Americans counteracted that they were positive that Texas was theirs and God even tells them that it is destiny to have Texas so why doesn’t Mexico just go right ahead and give Texas to them so they wouldn’t have to lose so many lives. The United States was justified in going to war with Mexico because if they wanted the land they would have to go into strife to prove that the land was
The Antebellum Era between the years of 1825 to 1850 was abundant with many reform movements that signified great change within the people of the nation. Although many of these changes were good and lasting reforms, extremists’ stark views did the contrary and inhibited change. Luckily, reform movements such as the women’s rights movement, the abolition of slavery, and temperance all led the nation in the right direction towards the expansion of democratic ideals. These ideals encompass the belief that all citizens are equal and are entitled to certain unalienable rights.
The Treaty of Guadalupe was the beginning of a new era amongst Mexico and the United States, which would forever change how the US and Mexico would deal with each other. The purpose of the treaty was to end the Mexican-American war. It consisted of fees America would pay to Mexico and in return it would separate the US and Mexico border along the Rio Grande. Mexicans living on the new American side of the Rio Grande had the choice to move south to Mexico or stay on American soil and become citizens. More than 90% of these Mexicans would stay on the US side and accept to
In 1848 the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed and borders were designated between Texas and Mexico, border between California and Mexico was established and the territories of California and New Mexico was bought for 15 million along with any cancellation of debts owed to the United States. Those Mexicans that lived in these territories could become U.S. citizens or return to
Near the end of the Antebellum Era, tensions and sectionalism increased as the states argued over what was constitutional. The South had later seceded from the United States and had become the Confederacy of America while the North had remained as the Union. The South had fully supported states’ rights while the north had strongly disapproved it. However, westward expansion, southern anger with the abolitionists, and the secession of the South that had destroyed the feeling of unity in the country because of the disagreement over slavery had been the main factors to the cause of the Civil War. Therefore, since slavery was the primary reason for the discontent in the country, it had been the primary cause of the Civil War.
The years after the civil war left one half of America, the north, satisfied and the other half, the south, mostly dissatisfied. Therefore the last third of the nineteenth century, 1865-1900, was a time period in which America was mending, repairing, improving, reshaping, and reconstructing its society, economy, culture, and policies. Basically it was changing everything it stood for. This continual change can be seen in the following events that took place during this time. These events are both causes and effects of why America is what it is today. These are some examples: the reconstruction of the south, the great movement towards the west, the agricultural revolution, the rise of industrialism, the completion of the transcontinental railroad, and America's growth to gaining world power. All of these are reasons and events that characterize America as being an ever-changing nation.
The Antebellum Period in America occurred between 1815-1860. During this time period, religion, economic expansion, and social reform all greatly changed the United States and ultimately formed the nation that we have today. The effects of the Second Great Awakening greatly affected religion, the market revolution permanently changed the American economy, and social reform movement lobbied for temperance, women’s rights, the abolition of slavery, and institutions for those in poor mental health.
It did not take much time after the US obtained this new land that thousands of Chicanos lost their homelands. These Native citizens had already gained the ownership of their property through Spanish or Mexican law, however, due to the fact that United States courts did not recognize these laws these natives were stripped of their land. According to a prominent Chicano activist, Reyes Lopez Tijerina, the United states had unlawfully taken away these citizens’ land. Tijerina debates that, after the Mexican American war the United States and Mexico signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which promises these native free enjoyment of their property. However, by stripping the land from these natives the United States is going against the promise it made in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, of allowing natives to enjoy their land or property. By going against this treaty the United States is going against its own laws, because due to the United States Constitution, article twelve, section two, which states that all treaties created by the United States are the supreme law, the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is a law1.
Since Santa Anna was taken out of position as president, the Mexican government refused to recognize Texas as independent officially. After attempts to invade Texas by Mexico, the United States decided to annex the Republic of Texas in 1845. This lead to the outbreak of the Mexican-American War. With help from local Native Americans, the United States was able to defeat Mexico, getting them to sign the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo recognized the Texas cession and also agreed to sell California, and the rest of its territory north of Rio Grande for $15 million, as well as taking care of any damages created from the
...n. In article five of the treaty, the boundary between the nations was determined. This primarily the borders that we had today. Since Americans were in complete control of Mexico during this time, the signing of the treaties would kick america out and give Mexico control of their new shrunken territory. The agreement also talked about if another war does erupt between them again, the countries can not hurt the innocent including women, children, ecclesiastics, farmers,merchants, rich people, unarmed citizens and many more. Houses and other respected buildings like churches, hospitals, schools and colleges can not be destroyed. The Treaty was ratified by the president on march 16, 1848 and was made official on July fourth, 1848. The Americans gave the Mexicans only 15 million for all the land they got;stealing more than half of the Mexican empire.
“If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the new stand side by side...when the glories of the old can be compensated by the rich possibilities of the new era? This time...is a very good one.”