Was The United States Justified in Going to War With Mexico?
One question that is frequently asked between countries is whether the Mexican-American War should have even happened. This question has led many Mexicans and Americans to butt-heads with each other on who is right. Did the United States really have enough reason to go to war with Mexico? The United States was not justified in going to war with Mexico because there wasn’t enough reason, lack of communication, and unreasonable leaders.
There were many things that helped both sides. The Mexican War began March 9, 1846 and it took place on Rio del Norte, also known as the Rio Grande. The main reason why the war occurred was because both countries wanted land to grow bigger in size
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and power. “He believed it was God’s plan that America extend its territory all the way to the Pacific Ocean” (DBQ 317). Shortly after Mexico gained its independence from Spain, Texas decided they were going to do the same. “But now,... Mexico has passed the boundaries of the United States, has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon the American soil”(Polk 325). Both countries claimed Texas as theirs but no one was really sure who it truly belonged to. One reason the Mexican War was not justified was they didn’t have enough reason. America did not have enough events that took place to official declare war on Mexico and to support their side. “[O]ther nations have undertaken… hostile interference against us,... hampering our power, limiting our greatness…”(O’Sullivan 323). They just assumed that Texas was theirs to take by just signing a paper secretly with Texas. President Polk only went by what he thought was going to happen and just told that it was the truth when it was just what he thought could happen. “This has become necessary, to meet a threatened invasion of Texas by the Mexican forces…”(Polk 325). This evidence shows the US was not justified in going to war because they did not have any physical evidence to support their reason. The decision was only made by guesses and assumptions. That puts America in a very dangerous situation. A second reason the Mexican War was not justified was because of lack of communication.
Mexico and the US went to war because their were no communications on where the borders location truly was. “US historians refer to this event as “The Mexican War”, while in Mexico we prefer to use the term “The American Invasion”.”(Velasco-Marquez 327). No one spoke before they went to war which could have resolved the problems before hand. Speaking beforehand could have also saved many lives and prevented the loss and confusion. “The idea was… that this extensive province ought to become a part of the United States…”(Sumner 329). Both sides have their excuse, Mexico and America, but Texas’s point of view is never reviewed and; if the countries spoke, they could have made a better plan other than fighting. The war was caused because no one spoke up and shared their perspective which led to many …show more content…
misunderstandings. A third reason the Mexican War was not justified is because the leaders were just plain unreasonable.
President Polk thought that America’s “manifest destiny” was more important than other countries and that he was supposed to help America grow bigger. Santa Anna, the Mexican president at the time, forced people of his race and others off of their own land because he wanted it and they didn’t deserve it. “It is time for opposition to the Annexation of Texas to cease…. Texas is now ours…. Let their reception into the “family” be frank, kindly, and cheery….” (Sullivan 323). Both leaders of their countries were selfish and risked so many of their own people’s life just so they could do what they believed was right. “In the eyes of the [Mexican] government, the mobilization of the US army was an outright attack on Mexico….” (Velasco-Marquez 327). Not only did these national leaders risk lives, they gambled some of their country, in which Mexico would soon lose a lot of it. The leaders did not care about who’s lives they were risking, as long as they were following their thoughts and doing things without
persevering. Others may try to support that the Us was justified for a few reasons. One reason is that Mexico technically trespassed on American territory but Mexico refused to believe that Texas was not theirs. “When word arrived on May 9, 1846, that Mexican soldiers had fired upon Americans on the “Texas side” of the Rio Grande, President Polk had a reason had a reason for going to war” (DBQ 317). Another reason is that Mexico allowed Americans onto their territory but made them follow their rules, leading to them rebelling. “A current of emigration soon followed from the United States.” (Sumner 329). This encouraged the US to rebel, like at the Alamo, and help fight for the Texans independence which led to Mexico wanting Texas back. Because Texas was a new country, they were afraid that Mexico would reconquer them so the became Annexed to Texas. Most people who believed the US was justified in going to war would use this evidence to support their evidence. The United States had no reason to go to war because they didn't have reason, no one communicated, and the leaders were not reasonable. The US should have had way more reason and not gone to war by guesses. This question helps people realize that the US didn't have a fair support for going to war. Mexico or the US could look different if they hadn't gone to war. It is important to look at the cause and effect that the Mexican war had on the US. Many countries have played a part in the American history but this will forever be one of the biggest events to have an impact on the size of America.
The Mexican-American War of the 1840s, precipitated by border disputes and the U.S. annexation of Texas, ended with the military occupation of Mexico City by General Winfield Scott. In the subsequent treaty, the United States gained territory that would become California, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and parts of Wyoming and Colorado.
Although many Americans did not take the war seriously, the Mexican-American War of 1846 was responsible for the thousands of both Mexican and American deaths, and permanently left a scar on the the U.S’ relationship with Mexico. In 1846, the U.S declared war on Mexico after shots were fired at American soldiers on the “Texas side” of the Rio Grande, which the Americans believed was the border between Mexico and the U.S. The war was very controversial, and many Americans vigorously opposed President Polk’s decision to declare war. However after winning the war, the U.S gained most of Mexico’s territory in the West, completing the Manifest Destiny (BGE). Was the U.S. right to go to war with Mexico? The United States were unjustified in going
Later they wanted to annex it but Mexico said that any attempts to annex Texas would be an act of war. The Mexican War started in 1846, when Mexicans attacked a group of United States soldiers, under the command of Zachary Taylor, in a disputed zone on the border of United States and Mexico, killing about a dozen American soldiers. President Polk told the U.S. Congress that the “cup of forbearance has been exhausted” which means the Mexicans hit the last straw and it is time for war. President Polk sent General Zachary Taylor to Nueces River vs. Rio Grande to poke the Mexicans to shoot and they did. The Mexicans have shed “American blood upon American soil.” The United States wanted war with Mexico now they have a reason to declare war ( History.com
The war between Mexico and the United States started in 1846, should the United States go to war with Mexico? The United States was indeed justified in going to war with Mexico, because 16 Americans lost their lives in a battle with Mexico. Second, Mexicans were mad about the revolution, and Mexico treated U.S. diplomats poorly. Many mini-huge and impactful battles took place to unite the country and to fulfill God’s will to take all the land. While trying to execute Manifest Destiny, 16 Americans killed for the right but made a sacrifice to take dominance over Mexico.
Many people do not know that the Mexican War had increased the United States by 50%. The Mexican War started in 1846 and ended in 1848 and took place mostly south of the Rio Grande. What forced Mexico to declare war was the annexation of Texas, the citizens in Texas disobeying the Mexican laws, and Americans crossing the border. Do you think the United States had enough justification for going to war with Mexico? The United States was justified in going to war with Mexico because the United States’ Manifest Destiny beliefs, the Mexicans passed the border of Rio Grande, and the American citizens supported going to war.
This caused conflict between the two countries. Is it right for the United States to declare war against Mexico? America was justified in going to war with Mexico because they could gain economic benefits, Mexico threatened America first, and citizens and James K. Polk wanted to fulfill their manifest destiny. Another reason that the Mexican War was justified was because Mexico had already threatened the United States by advancing past the boundary of the United States.
So, is the United States justified in going to war with Mexico? I think the U.S. was unjustified to go to war with Mexico because, the United States provoked the war and started the war, the only reason they had the Mexican war was to gain land and lastly Texas was stolen from Mexico by southern slave owners.
the land and yet it had such a weak economy and could use the money
The Franco-Mexican War The Franco-Mexican War was a war fought by two very different countries than they are today. The war was fought over reasons that seem very unlikely to arise ever again. between these two countries. The war was fought over gaining territory, group thinking, and pure human. Nature.
The United States was not justified in going to war with Mexico because America came in and broke the laws, there were no borders for Texas, and America stole Mexico's land. Tejanos(Mexicans) invited Americans in to settle in Texas. Americans also known as Anglos Broke most of the few laws Mexico made. There was a war for the independence of Texas. A couple years later, President Polk went to go ask Mexico for some of their land because of their belief called Manifest destiny.
United States started the war with Mexico due to its imperial ambitions and need for territorial expansion. America was modernizing itself and getting ready to engage in competition with Europe. Capitalism and modernization fueled the competition for resources to feed the industries, and the markets to sell the manufactured goods. A country in this world was either an exploiter or the exploited by that order of things. Being neither one of those was the hardest to achieve. Americans decided to be exploiters; therefore, they needed to engage in competition with Europe, a group of empires dominating the world. To successfully compete with Europe, America needed the natural resources and advantage over trading routes Asia to engage profitable in business with Asian territories. Another reason Americans engaged in war with Mexico was to avoid domestic instability and chaos that would slow down its imperial progress. Issues of economic crisis and slavery were vital to solve. The U.S needed to justify their actions; thus, they put the blame on Mexico for starting the war. The War with Mexico was a significant event since it was the largest U.S military expansion for the reasons of modernization covered up as an act of self-defense.
In 1845 the U.S attempted to Annex Texas. Basically America wanted Texas to become one of the states rather then and independent nation by itself. At this time Texas was an independent nation that was not a part of America or Mexico. Mexico wanted to keep Texas neutral if not a part of its own country. When the U.S attempted to annex Texas Mexico became outraged, " In November 1843 Mexico had warned that if the United States should commit the 'unheard-of aggression' of seizing an integral part of 'Mexican territory' Mexico would declare war " (Bound for the Rio Grande, 62). Despite the warning the U.S attempted to annex Texas. In doing so Mexico retaliated by breaking off all diplomatic relations with the U.S. Mexico felt that the U.S was insulting them by not taking them seriously when they threatened with war. So at this point America showed a very large interest in possessing Texas. America was very close to actually acquiring Texas when they made their first mistake in the war.
The Mexican-American war determined the destiny of the United States of America, it determined whether or not it would become a world power and it established the size of the United States of America. Perhaps the war was inevitable due to the idea of Manifest Destiny - Americans thought they had the divine right to extend their territory. The Mexican-American War started mainly because of the annexation of the Republic of Texas (established in 1836 after breaking away from Mexico). The United States and Mexico still had conflicts on what the borders of Texas was, the United States claimed that the Texas border with Mexico was the Rio Grande, but the Mexicans said that it was the Nueces River, so the land in between were disputed and claimed by both the United States and Mexico.
The residents of Texas had a different plan. Mexico had made Texans change religion to “fit into” the their culture. The inhabitants had enough. The South wanted to add Texas because it would create another slave state but the North said that annexing this country would create a war with Mexico. The Mexican leader at the time even said that if President James Polk did go through with adding Texas as a state, it would be like declaring war on Mexico. Even though President Polk thought the border of Mexico and the U.S. was the Rio Grande but the president of Mexico complained it was the Nueces river. On April 25th 1846, Polk sent troops to the Nueces River to intimidate the Tejanos (or mexicans living in Texas at the time) and this is how the Mexican-American war started. In theory, the North was right. Adding Texas did create a war but it also helped the United States conquer Manifest Destiny. More and more people wanted to finish getting all of the West and South coast of the U.S. Another plus is that Texas added more land and increased the population of the U.S. At the end of this war, we had captured Mexico City in 1848 which forced the Mexicans to surrender. This created the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. The treaty stated that the Rio Grande was now the official border of the United States and Texas. With this, the treaty gave parts of what is now known as Arizona, California, Nevada,
The Mexican war started, because Polk offered Mexico a fair price for their land, Mexico refuse the offered. Polk sent the U.S. Army to the border of Bregion. The Mexican War started in 1846-1848. The battle of Santa Fe was led by United States leader Stephen Kearney. Kearney won that battle because the people of Santa Fe surrendered. Another threat was in Mexican territory of California. California was populated by Mexicans, but a lot of American live there (page 84). John Fremont, a pro-American forces, and Californians had proclaimed their territory as a free, independent and sovereign republic. Californians want to join force with the United States. As the United States arrived at in California, they lowered the Bear flag and hoisted the American flag. This event was called the Bear Flag Republic (page