Was The Mexican American War Justified Essay

Justified or Not?

Did the United States have a plausible reason to go to war with Mexico? Like many other wars that have happened thus far, it had its supporters and opposers. The Mexican-American War lasted for nearly two years (1846-1848) and ended rather abruptly. This territorial dispute resulted in a lot of unnecessary blood shed and the only thing gained was a piece of land that was known as Texas. There are many conflicts that still reside over this topic; the major one being: was it justifiable?

To begin with, the growing populations West of the Mississippi wanted more land and pressured the government into annexing Texas, Oregon, and other territories (Textbook 354). About twenty years before this, Mexico declared their independence

from Spain (Background) because they did not want to be ruled by Napoleon. His occupation lead to various revolts all around Spanish America and so a Catholic priest, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, launched his Cry of Dolores. Leaders of Mexico at the time were very much aware of the emptiness of their northern lands and increased the population by welcoming farmers from the United States into Texas. This, of course, was a mistake; American settlers completely ignored Mexican authority and soon enough revolts emerged (Background). Although many Mexican leaders ignored this event, Texans won their independence from Mexico in 1836. As this when on, Texas repeatedly asked Congress to annex them into the United States. Many opposed this because they “did not want to anger Mexican officials” who still thought of Texas as theirs while others refused to accept another large slave-state into the United States. After nine years and two failed attempts, Texas finally became a part of the US. In 1844, James K. Polk became the eleventh President and he supported the Manifest Destiny. This Destiny was the belief that it was God’s plan for them to expand westward. Polk did not just want Texas, he wanted California too. In July of 1845, Polk sends troops under General Zachary Taylor into disputed territory in southern Texas. On Polk’s orders, John Slidell was sent to Mexico City to try and buy California. These actions angered Mexican leaders and Slidell was sent way. Polk saw this brusque behavior as a challenge of American power and so when he learned of Mexican soldiers shooting at his troops, he declared war (Background).
As a result of the aforementioned actions, war broke out.

This two year war was over the land of Texas, or any land in between the US and the Pacific Ocean, and who would own it. With a single misunderstandment, sixteen American troops and an unknown amount of Mexican troops were killed; Polk saw this as a means to war. American troops were outnumbered and attacked by the Texas-established border of Rio Grande. Both sides considered Texas to be theirs, although Texas had been annexed to the United States. Many saw the annexation of Texas as a curse, but some saw it as a blessing. One in particular, John L. O’Sullivan, states that the American citizens should embrace Texas with hospitality and that soon enough California will be theirs too. He states that although weak, Mexico has challenged the nation and is restricting them from completing the plans of God (DOC A). To have a war, both houses of Congress must consent. After Polk’s War Message that stated he had stationed troops at Rio Grande to protect Texas; it was his duty because Texas was now a part of the Union now. He tells of the attack and then states that Mexico has crossed a line and now they must not surrender, they must fight back. On May 13, 1846 the houses voted; in the US Senate it was forty to two, in the House of Representatives it was one hundred and seventy-four to fourteen (DOC B). From Mexico’s viewpoint, they saw the annexation of Texas to be “inadmissible for both legal and security reasons” (DOC C).

When the Mexican government learned of this, they saw it as a statement of war commencing. The American troops at Rio Grande were seen as an attack on Mexico and so Mexican troops fought back. This attack caused the Mexican Government to send reinforcements to be stationed at the border and to protect the border (DOC C).
Forthwith, there is much controversy of which this war was justified or not.

Many states like Massachusetts objected the war. Charles Sumner, a state legislator, states in his “Objections to the Mexican-American War” that Mexico should just charge the United States with robbery. He also says that by expanding slavery, American citizens denied “the great truths of American freedom” (DOC D). Sumner saw Mexico as pure because they rejected slavery, while many parts of America were pro-slavery. Although annexed to the US, it was never really clear what was going on with Texas. It went from one nation to another without hesitation. Yes, Texas left Mexico but Texans knew that the Mexican government would never accept the annexation to America. This war was not justified, they could have had various meetings and talked it out like many generations have done before. Both sides made rash decisions and for that many troops paid the price. The United States could of found another way, but greed clouded the minds of many and would not let go until it had what it wanted: more

land.
As shown above, the United States did not have a clear or good reason as to why the war with Mexico should have happened. American citizens coaxed the government into giving them more land and it worked great because Polk became President and what he wanted, more than anything, was more land. This two year territorial dispute was a unnecessary and costed the lives of many innocents. In the end, America got what it wanted and Mexico was left defeated.