When is it right to take a stand? When you believe in it? But what if you were wrong? The purpose for what you stood for was unreasonable, unjust. What then do you make of your actions? In 1836, Texas became tired of Mexico’s rule, so her citizens fought against Mexico for their independence. Texas finally declared herself independant after an army of Texan soldiers ambushed the Mexican army, killing more than half of them and forcing General Santa Anna to sign a treaty for Texas’ independence from Mexico. 10 years later, Texas was annexed into the United States of America. However, Mexico was not in favor of this, and eventually a war broke out between the two nations. Although the United States war against Mexico resulted in the gaining of America’s most valuable land, the war itself was unjust because Texas had no right to rebel, Polk instigated the fight, and the war was fought to extend slavery.
The war was started over the possession of Texas. However, Texas herself, and America by extension, was in the wrong. In 1826, a Tejano, one of the original spaniard citizens of Texas, sent a letter to a military commander addressing his concern about the Texans from America. In the letter Rafael Antonio Manchola wrote that they, “... cannot trust the
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Anglo-American colonists, because they are continually demonstrating that they refuse to follow our laws, unless it is convenient for them.” How could the Texans be the good guys when they do not even abide to the laws of the country in which the reside in? It is simple; they were the bad guys. The rebellious Texans came into another country asking for land. But when they have that land, they give no respect to the rules and authority of the country which blessed them with it? No, that is not something that could sanely be considered “just” or “reasonable”. In the same letter, Manchola addresses that the colonists, “... have been using their own colonists as judges and practicing their own laws, forgetting that they swore to obey the laws of Mexico.” Pray tell, how is the behavior of the texans something one can call “morally right”? They have essentially gone back on their word. They have done the opposite of what they swore to do; become Mexican citizens and follow Mexican laws. The actions of the texans, are not those of a Mexican citizen. When the actions of a man are unjust, and his word worthless, then the man can no longer be considered as “righteous”. The American Mexican war was started because of Texas, and if Texas was unjust, then said war was as well. War was officially declared after American blood was shed. But while the blame went to Mexico, it truly belonged with President Polk. In Polk’s Address to Congress Calling for a Declaration of War (May 11), 1846, Polk states that the Mexicans passed the border and invaded United States territory. Polk is essentially lying as there was no set boundary between the two countries. America insisted that her land stretched to the Rio Grande, while Mexico believed it ended at the Nueces River. The land was not officially America’s and Polk had no right to call it theirs in order to start a war. Polk was the 11th President of the United States of America. His duty was to protect the lives of the citizens of the US. But according to Document E, Polk sent a group of military troops into supposedly “American” territory, with orders to “...abstain all aggressive acts toward ‘Mexican citizens’.” Polk obviously knew that the land wasn’t America’s. Mexican citizens live in Mexico; an area populated with Mexican citizens is Mexican land. That is something that Polk acknowledges. Basically, Polk sent 16 soldiers, armed and in full military attire, to their deaths. He sacrificed them. All because he wanted to unjustly start a war. The American invasion was morally wrong, for it was fought to extend the heinous act of slavery. In Document C, Benjamin Lundy writes, “We have been asked to believe that the inhabitants of Texas have been fighting to maintain the sacred principles of Liberty, and the natural, inalienable Rights of Man: --- whereas, their motives have been exactly the opposite. The immediate cause and main goal of the war… has been to… re-establish the SYSTEM OF SLAVERY….” After attaining the knowledge of the true cause of the war, how can one label it as “just”? Wars, themselves, are an act of darkness. Only when the cause of a war is right, is it slightly more acceptable. But, when a war is driven by an act of evilness, then the fight is even worse. In Document E, Joshua Gidding states that, “This war is waged against an unoffending people, without just or adequate cause, for the purposes of conquest; with the design to extend slavery; in violation of the Constitution, against the dictates of justice, of humanity, the sentiments of the age in which we live, and the precepts of the religion we profess.” When something is “just”, it is able to be shown to be right or reasonable. Neither of which, is the act of slavery. The war was fought under the false pretense of righteousness, while in the shadows of the false light, lurked the true motive; continuing the inhumane practice of owning a fellow human. Despite the fact that there is overwhelming evidence to prove that the American Mexican War was unreasonable, there are those who support the war, saying that it was justifiable because Americans were killed.
However, that is inaccurate, for it is America’s own fault that the blood of her citizens was shed. President Polk, the leader of the United States, sent the troops out of country, into territory which was being claimed by both America and Mexico (a country they are at odds with) with orders to not fight back against any opposition. 16 soldiers followed that order, and 16 soldiers’ lives were cut short. It is only by the fault of America’s leader, not that of the Mexican country, that American lives were
lost. In conclusion, the war between the US and Mexico over Texas was unjust, because Texas was in the wrong, Polk sacrificed lives to start the war, and the motive for America to own the land was to expand slavery. In the end, the ethicality of something as significant as a war, depends on if the causes and the motives were more right or wrong. In the case of the American Mexican war, the actions leading up to, and the reasons behind, the war were morally wrong. Therefore, the conflict was unjustifiable. This topic is important today, for it helps people see that they should always make sure that they are basing our actions on the right reasons.
"After Mexico gained it's independence from Spain in 1821, it faced internal power struggles that left it in a volatile state of rebellion and instability for years." In 1846, the Mexican government, under the dictator Santa Anna, went to war with the United States. As an outcome of that war, Mexico lost a large amount of land--the land we now know as Texas. In 1854, Juan Alvarez and his troops led a successful revolt to drive Santa Anna out of power. One of Alvarez's strongest supporters was a man by the name of Benito Juarez, a Zapotec Indian leader. In 1855, Juarez became the minister of Justice under the new regime and issued two new controversial laws. One denied the right of the church and military courts to try civilian cases and the other made the sale and distribution of church lands legal. Many people disagreed with these laws and for three years a civil war raged between the two sides. In 1861 Juarez took control of the capital, Mexico City, and put his new Constitution into effect. Not only had Juarez's laws split the country, they had caused the civil war that left Juarez in debt to Spain, England, and France. The three countries were concerned about the debt, so they held a meeting in London, at which Spain and Britain decided to waive the debt in exchange for military control of the Custom House in Vera Cruz. France did not agree to these terms and invaded Mexico in 1861 in hopes of defeating the country and disposing of Juarez. The French troops--deemed among the best trained and equipped in the world--marched into the city of Puebla on May 5, 1862, expecting no resistance. The French army consisted of 6,000 men under the command of Marshal Lorencz. The French were met by an armed force of 2,000 peasants under the command of General Ignacio Zaragoza. The Mexican guerilla forces successfully defended their positions and attacked and drove back the French forces. Victory, however, was short lived. Within a year, France had successfully conquered Puebla and the rest of Mexico, and went on ruling there until 1867 when Juarez was once again restored to power. He ruled the country until his death in 1872. Cinco de Mayo, therefore, does not celebrate Mexico's independence, rather it symbolizes "the right of the people to self determination and national sovereignty, and the ability of non-Europeans to defend those rights against modern military organizations.
was not justified to declare war with Mexico because of the ignorance of Mexican authority, the robbery of disputed/Mexican-owned land, and the order from Polk which provoked the war. The U.S. were allowed by Mexican government to settle into the provenance of Texas. After settling in the nutritious and fertile farmland, the U.S. settlers rebelled against Mexican law and established slavery in Texas. The U.S. robbed disputed/Mexican-owned land, which led to confusion spreading into Mexico and the U.S. because of unofficial borders. Polk provoked a Mexican attack by ordering soldiers onto Mexican borders, which led to the Mexicans attacking out of pressure.
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
Even throughout continuously losing battle after battle, Mexico thought that Texas was theirs. Still, the United States was still justified in going to war with Mexico. Mexico thought that they were at Texas first and that, that meant that they had the right to call the land theirs but Americans counteracted that they were positive that Texas was theirs and God even tells them that it is destiny to have Texas.
A third reason the Mexican War was justified was Americans supported going to war. Evidence of this claim is in Document D where Charles Sumner said, at the time, citizens had already started to move to Texas from Massachusetts. Also, in Document B, the note following the letter says that Congress, over killingly, voted 214 votes for “yes” and 16 votes for “no”. This evidence shows the US was justified in going to war with Mexico because it shows support from American citizens and the American
As Americans, we’ve taken far greater than just tacos, burritos, and nachos from the culture of Mexico. Through America’s past relations with Mexico, America has taken large amounts of land, and a sense of power from country south of the United States, Mexico. In 1846, James Polk, a former president of the United States, declared war on Mexico. There was confusion between Mexico and America. Land was being traded, new borders were being formed, but disorientation was aroused causing conflict. Differences in culture, beliefs, and even national law led to dispute among these two countries, making it even more difficult to reach a treaty of peace, or a deal. The Mexican-American War was not justified because it was an excuse for gaining land,
the land and yet it had such a weak economy and could use the money
Today we live in a world where war never sleeps. War is a term used to explain conflict between two nations, or within a nation. This particular war was between two nations, Mexico and the United States. About a century and a half ago in 1846, on what was thought to be the Mexican-American border, many American and Mexican soldiers lost their lives. The war was an on-going feud, that had and still has many pros and cons. The U.S. was unjustified in going to war with Mexico because many U.S. citizens disagreed and sided with Mexico. Mexico owned and took care of the land first, and the United States deliberately caused this war to occur. As awesome as a
From the early days of pioneers and settlers, thousands of Americans began to move into what would become Texas. The Mexican government was wanting to populate the Texas area to increase the economy. For a long period of time the Mexican government had placed many laws on the territory, but none that were deeply inforced. Finally when a new dictatorship came into power, they began to enforce the laws. Slavery among other issues
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.
Mexico saw the fire of revolution in the Texans and acted quickly. They soon sent spies in to observe the actions of the Texans and slowly started to move troops into the Texas territory.... ... middle of paper ... ...
Beginning in 1845 and ending in 1850 a series of events took place that would come to be known as the Mexican war and the Texas Revolution. This paper will give an overview on not only the events that occurred (battles, treaties, negotiations, ect.) But also the politics and reasoning behind it all. This was a war that involved America and Mexico fighting over Texas. That was the base for the entire ordeal. This series of events contained some of the most dramatic war strategy that has ever been implemented.
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. Hostilities started on April 24th, 1846, 2000 Mexican cavalry crossed the Rio Grande and attacked an American troop of 63 men.