Was The Mexican-American War Justified?

Have you ever heard of the Mexican-American War? It was another war with a lot of bloodshed over a wide amount of land, taking place in 1846, causing thousands of Mexicans and Americans to die. With having bloodshed, there were both supporters and critics in whether or not the United States was justified to go to war with Mexico for a large lot of land. People questioned whether or not the American’s actions were right against Mexico. Going back when Mexico had just won its freedom from Spain, the Mexican leaders had noticed what great land they had ranging from Guatemala to Oregon, there was low population, so in resolution Mexican leaders had welcomed U.S. settlers. With the settlers stationary on that land that Mexico had claimed

they also wanted control over the American citizens.

But with no luck the U.S settlers did no such thing to listen to the rules, they were Protestant and pro-slavery, so they increasingly ignored any Mexican authority. Given the fact that Mexico had welcomed U.S citizens to settle on their land, were the U.S. justified to start a war with Mexico? No, the U.S. had no right. The United States were not justified because the citizens strongly believed in Manifest Dynasty, Polk, at the time the U.S president had been disappointed over not having the land of California, and Polk had provoked the Mexican government to attack U.S troops. Polk’s actions had showed how greedy he was of having control, so absorbed his power for new and more land.

With the U.S. believing in manifest dynasty deeply, they took matters into their own hands, using their belief as an advantage thinking there is no wrongdoing when seeking out land. Manifest dynasty is a doctrine or belief that allows the U.S. citizens the right to take land making an

expansion to the United States. As written by John O’Sullivan, in the United States Magazine and Democratic Review,”Other nations have undertaken...hostile interference against us, limiting our greatness and checking the fulfillment of our manifest dynasty to overspeed the continent allotted by Providence (God)” With this being stated through a magazine, given throughout the whole country to U.S. residents, there is a high quota of people who believe in manifest dynasty. But ideal was overall nationalistic, their belief does not control their actions, they go on their own do it themselves. Only they have full rein of what they decide to do, but here these men had taken what one man had claimed and used it to mask away how greedy they were of how much power they seized. O’Sullivan had also included, “California will, probably, next fall away from Mexico… Imbecile and distracted Mexico never can exert any real government authority over such a country”. What O’Sullivan had wrote confirmed that the United States had very little respect for Mexico. In some ways it looks like O’Sullivan is trying to send a message stating that only the United States could be capable of handling such a large amount of land. With a great deal amount of people believing manifest dynasty they also put it out there that they deserve the land. Leaving It unjustified for the U.S. to go to war with Mexico because of the deep belief of manifest dynasty, they used to cover up for being disrespectful and greedy.

After Polk established that the land should belong to the United States, he sent people to talk to with Mexico into handing over the land of California. As stated in the Background Essay,”In July of 1845 he (Polk) sent American troops under General Zachary Taylor into the disputed area of southern Texas”. When Polk sent troops over expecting the land to be theirs he was disappointed to find that in fact it wasn’t theirs at all. Also specified in the Background Essay,”He also sent John Slidell, a special envoy, to Mexico City to try California. The combination of American troops at Rio Grande and attempt to buy a large part of the country angered the Mexican government”. Realizing that sending Slidell to Mexico City only made Mexico angry didn’t help with the way he had been disappointed but in addition he had came up with a plan.

After which Polk had been notified that Slidell was asked to leave Mexico City without a buy, he decided it was perfect for provoking Mexico.

“Polk saw Mexico’s treatment of Slidell as an opportunity. He felt America’s honor had been challenged. Word arrived on May 9, 1846 that the Mexican soldiers had fired on the “Texas side” of the Rio Grande” (Background Essay). Therefore leaving President Polk with a reason to go to war. When Mexico had fired on the soldiers they were on the Mexican border, from Mexico’s eyes. Mexico had only been trying to protect the land that was rightfully theirs. Identified by Jesus Valasco-Marquez,” In the eyes of the Mexican government, the mobilization of the U.S. Army was an outright attack on Mexico”. When U.S. declared war on Mexico, which was ill prepared, Mexico had given up California and parts of New Mexico and Arizona. The U.S. then in turn paid Mexico $15 million and assumed all American claims against

Mexico.

Even though there weren’t any official borders for anyone to cross and not trespass, both sides, United States and Mexico, had made it clear on what they settled and thought was the border. The disputed zone between the Rio Grande and Nueces River, both countries having full knowledge of what the other country had set as border, the United State had been unwise without a care, wishing to provoke the Mexican government to react and, crossed the border, wishing to provoke the Mexican government to react and, with thorough direction the Mexican government had aimed and fired on the American troops for trespassing on Mexican land.

There was no significant advantage gained by the war that could not have been obtained by peaceful means; therefore the war was hardly justified.Seeing it is only fitting that the Mexican government must act upon their land being trespassed, there would be no reason as to why there was a huge war with tons of bloodshed.