Was The Mexican War Justified Essay

“The most dramatic event in the history of connections between Mexico and the United States took place about a century and a half ago.” (Marquez, pg. 327) Did the U.S. have a right to go to war with Mexico? The U.S. went to war with Mexico from 1846 through 1848. During this tragic time, hundreds of Mexicans and Americans died. The United States was not justified in going to war with Mexico because the U.S. intruded and defended their territory, and the the Americans had a rebellious influence, and the U.S. was a thief.

Lots of events took place before the war, involving the Mexicans and the Americans, and there was also a few interesting facts about why the war took place. The place where it all began was at the Rio Grande in Texas. Before

the war, in 1803, the Louisiana purchase took place and the U.S. gained about fifty percent. In 1836, Texas declared its independence from Mexico. In 1816, the annexation of the Oregon Trail took place. The U.S. went to war with Mexico from 1846 through 1848. (Roden, pg. 317) The war between the two countries started May 13, 1846. (Polk, pg. 325) During this tragic time, hundreds of Mexicans and Americans died. California is admitted to the Union in 1849. In 1852, Massachusetts establishes minimum twelve week school year.
One reason the Mexican War was not justified was because the U.S.

intruded Mexico. Before the war began between Mexico and the U.S, Texas was a disputed territory and the two countries were confused where their territory extended. They came into Texas with huge groups of American troops on what Mexico thought was their territory and were defending their borders. Mexico was not happy and it didn't help that America was buying Texas, a large part of their country. Mexico sended the troops off kindly, but Polk, the president of the U.S. at that time, used it was an opportunity to go to war. (Roden, pg. 317)Though Polk thought America’s honor had been challenged, Mexico’s opinion differed. (Roden, pg. 317) “The American government acted like a bandit who came upon a traveler.” (Marquez, pg.

327)
A second reason the Mexican War was not justified was because the U.S. had a rebellious influence on Mexico. Mexican leaders wanted to increase the population and welcomed settlers from the United States. However, this didn’t work out well because American settlers had many differences from Mexicans. Mexico was Catholic, anti-slavery, and wanted to have Texans under their control. Differently, the American settlers were mostly Protestant, pro-slavery, and largely ignored Mexican authority. Americans saw that Mexicans were taking away their farmers and was angered. (Roden, pg, 317) Differently, Mexicans saw it as taking U.S. people for freedom. (Sumner, pg. 329) Eventually, the differences influenced a revolt. Mexico decreed the end of human slavery, but Americans that moved in didn’t listen. “In defiance to of the Mexican ordinance, slaveholders crossed the Sabine [river between Louisiana and Texas] with their slaves.” Mexicans were inspired by the Americans that the Mexicans welcomed in. “Certainly [Mexico]... might justly charge our citizens with disgraceful robbery, while, in seeking extension of slavery, [our own citizens denied] the great truths of American freedom.” (Sumner, pg. 329)
A third reason the Mexican War was not justified was because the U.S. was a greedy thief. In July 1845, Polk sent American troops under Zachary Taylor into the disputed part of southern Texas. “The mobilization of the U.S. army was an outright attack on Mexico.” (Marquez, pg. 327) He also sent John Slidell to Mexico to try and buy California. The combination of American troops at the Rio Grande and the attempt to buy Texas angered the Mexican government. (Roden, pg. 317) Not only was the U.S. trying to steal Texas from Mexico, they were also trying to steal California.“From Mexican’s point of view, the annexation of Texas to the United States was inadmissible for both legal and security reasons.When they found out about the treaty signed between Texas and the opposing country in April 1844, would consider such an act “a declaration of war.”
Even though the Americans walked on what Mexico believed was their territory, Mexico shot the first shot.

(Roden, pg. 317) However, if the two countries talked over where the borders then there wouldn’t have been an issue. Like anybody would do, Mexico was protecting what it believed what its borders. Mexico’s anger also erupted from U.S. troops at the Rio Grande. “It was an outright attack on Mexico and as a consequence, they reaffirmed the instruction to protect the border.” (Marquez, pg. 327) It didn’t make Mexico happy that America was trying to buy Texas, a large portion of their country. America didn’t stop with Texas and wanted California. From Mexico’s point of view, the U.S. was a thief. The U.S. had a different opinion and thought that Mexico invaded their country. (Polk, pg. 325) Mexicans, in fact, prefer to use the term “The U.S. Invasion.” (Marquez, pg.

327)
The U.S. was not justified in going to war with Mexico because the U.S. intruded Mexico , Mexico was defending itself, the Americans had a rebellious influence, and the U.S. was a thief. The United States was not justified in going to war with Mexico because they went into Texas, disputed territory, with their big troops to buy it. Texas was a big portion of their country. The U.S. was greedy and couldn’t help trying to steal California. Whether the United States was justified in going to war with Mexico was significant because the war affected the U.S. The war also affected many lives, for better or for worse. It affected many choices and in the future may affect more choices. It is important to learn from this trial in the relationship between Mexico and the U.S. and how it will affect our decisions in the future.