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,

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