Antebellum Era Research Paper

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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

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