Manifest Destiny Dbq

Everyone in the US had Manifest Destiny in mind. This was the belief that the U.S. had a God-given right to expand across the entire continent, from sea to shinning sea. The U.S. just recently, had bought Louisiana for Napoleon, a Frenchman who played a significant role in the French Revolution. Texas had won its independence and James K. Polk was elected for president in 1844. Polk was a strong believer in Manifest Destiny, he wanted the annexation of Texas. Texas wasn’t the only thing he had in mind, Polk wanted California and the entire of what is western America today, which, was controlled by Mexico. Mexico was unhappy, they wanted Texas back. Polk attempted to purchase California, but Mexico wasn’t selling. As in true American fashion,

when we want something, we go to war for it. Congress defiantly wanted to go to war for all that Mexican owned land. The senate voted 40 yes and 2 no, while, the house of representatives voted 174 yes and 14 no, but, was this vote justified? The U.S. going to war with Mexico was justified because of the way Mexico tried to control the Texans, Mexican Soldiers firing on American ones, and Manifest destiny.
The first reason why the U.S.

was justified to go to war with Mexico is because of the way the Mexican government tried to control the Texans who immigrated from America. “Mexican leaders were aware of the near emptiness of their northern lands. One way to increase population was to welcome American settlers from the United States.” (Mexican American War Mini DBQ) Mexico’s solution to their small northern population was to offer land to Americans at a price. Americans who wanted the Mexican land needed to become loyal Mexican citizens, convert to Catholicism, live and cultivate on your land for ten years, and become anti-slavery. Many of the American emigrants flat out ignored these, the American settlers were pro-slavery, protestant, and did not obey Mexico’s rules set for them. When Americans started to rebel and revolt against the Mexican government, they tried to control the people. This lead to bloody events like the 13-day siege of the Alamo. Texas won its independence and joined the U.S. Around the time that the U.S. made the Louisiana purchase Mexico and the U.S. were about the same size. Part of declaring war against Mexico was trying to protect people from a form of government that lacks certain amendments and rights that ours

has.
The war was also justified because of Mexican Soldiers firing on American ones. Right after Texas joined the land the at was owned by the U.S, James Polk sent a party of troops into they’re newly owned land. The U.S. troops were met by a group of Mexican soldiers much larger than theirs. The Mexican soldiers fired on the Americans and when the smoke cleared 16 Americans were killed and injured. “Mexico has passed the boundaries of the United States, has invaded and shed American blood upon American soil.” (Document B-War message from James Polk) Again, this was another case were American was just trying to protect its citizens from possible harm or invasion. “It became, therefore, of urgent necessity to provide the defense of that portion of our country …”
The final reason the U.S. was justified to go to war with Mexico is simply because they wanted more land. The Louisiana purchase was made to give Americans more room, and that’s exactly what it did. Eventually, America would fill up again, James Polk was making a preemptive move to expand America before it got too cramped again. Also, many people believed in Manifest Destiny, or that the U.S. has a God-given right to expand across the continent to their hearts content. Because the belief of Manifest Destiny was so strong among the citizens of the U.S. would be willing to fight for what they believed in and what they wanted.