Annexation Of Texas Dbq Essay

The thought of annexing Texas was not generally accepted by the vast majority of not only the people living in Texas, but also the citizens of the U.S. The annexation was thought to set off political balance in congress and in the country. Tensions between Texas and Mexico were very high at the time and the last thing the country needed at that time was a war with Mexico. Along with these aspects people also knew that Texas would enter the U.S. as a slave state which also delayed the annexation of the area.

Polk had said that Mexico were planning on an invasion and declared war on Mexico. This didn’t show that we show not be afraid or fear military ambition. It showed how selfish man can be just to gain more territory because they believed that it was their right to expand the country. Mexico only wanted what was theirs after claiming independence from Spain, and not have it taken away. Texas was under Mexico law, and Mexico banned slavery. Many Americans settlers did live in Texas at the time and knew it was against Mexico’s law but still had slaves anyways. The war lasted for three years, but soon Mexico decided to sign a peace treaty that gave territories to America. America paid Mexico 15 billion for lands that are known today as California, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and

The History of Texas Texas history itself had its own amazing story. The small number of American settlers moved to the land of Texas had led to the dramatic war with the Mexicans. The land of Texas was used to be owned by Mexicans. Due to the argument between Texans and Mexicans caused the battle of San Jacinto and Mexican War. In long ago before American settlers moved to Texas, this place was so rich and an abundance of land.

When all attempts to arrive at a formal annexation treaty failed, the United States Congress passed--after much debate and only a simple majority--a Joint Resolution for Annexing Texas to the United States. Under these terms, Texas would keep both its public lands and its public debt, it would have the power to divide into four additional states "of convenient size" in the future if it so

The annexation of Texas was a path that many Texans wanted. Nearly ninety percent of Texans wanted to become part of the United States. “People hadn’t come to Texas to become part of the British Empire; most were particularly incensed by the British insistence on emancipation of the slaves; responding to public sentiment, the Texas Senate demanded that President Houston give them a full accounting of his dealings with Great Britain”. Before annexation, The Republic of Texas was a sovereign nation that existed for nearly ten years. The annexation process was proposed by John Tyler. Unfortunately, President Martin Van Buren struck down the annexation of Texas out of fear that this would expand slave territory and ensue war with Mexico. The Treaty of Annexation, Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, Mexican-American War and Joint Resolution of Congress all impacted the annexation process.

The Annexation of Texas was one of the most debatable events in American history. The question at hand would deeply impact the United States for generations to come. There was on one side a long list of reasons for why to not allow annexation, but there was the same kind of list on the other side for reasons to push forward for annexation. Some of these reasons of both sides were slaves, war, manifest destiny, politics , and constitutional rights. Also the way Texas began in a way said that they should be apart of the United States In the end there were more important reasons for annex Texas into the union, than to leave Texas the was she was.

The Mexican War of 1846-1848 was one of major importance to U.S. history, but has since fallen into annals of obscurity. It was the nation’s first war fought on foreign soil: a war that advocated the concept of “manifest destiny”, the United States God-given right to claim territory for the establishment of a free democratic society (Stevenson 2009). Even though many historians claim the war was forced on Mexico by slaveholders greedy for new territory, President John Polk viewed the war as an opportunity to defend the annexation of Texas, establish the Rio Grande as its border, and to acquire the Mexican territories of California and New Mexico (Stevenson 2009).

“President James Polk had ordered an efficient military force to take a position in the northern territory of the Rio Grande river”(Doc B, Par1). This movement was unnecessary; making Mexico think this was an outright attack. Military units are not just sent near a border, especially when that country wants the land. The attack from America led to their own loss, losing 16 men. Mexico was only defending the proper border of Texas(Doc B). America was insightful of the correct set border; basically killing their own soldiers in an unnecessary

“In the eyes of the Mexican government, the mobilization of the US army was an outright attack on Mexico”(Doc C paragraph 3). America was getting their military ready for battle. Maybe if President Polk hadn’t been so greedy with Texas, he wouldn’t have sent troops down there in the first place to protect it. This quote shows the Mexican War was unjustified because US troops entered Mexican territory first starting the war. “In July 1845, he sent American troops under General Zachary Taylor into the disputed area of southern Texas”(Background Essay Paragraph Seven). This once again proved the same reason that America sent troops into Mexico first driving Mexico to protect themselves. Mexico had good reasons for attacking our troops first. American troops were on Mexican territory and they were probably just about to shoot as well. This reason shows that America was not justified to go to war with Mexico because American troops trespassed on Mexican

The US was provoking Mexico. The president played a big role in annexing Texas, he set up troops to defend against Mexico taking back Texas. John O’Sullivan also told Mexico that they were going to take California after taking Texas. Polk supported and played a big role in Texas being annexed. (Doc.A) The US needed his approval mainly to make Texas part of the US. The government voted that Texas should be annexed but without the President saying yes it would have taken a lot longer then it did to make Texas a part of the US. The President set up troops to fight with the Mexicans increasing the level of the situation also. Document B says the President set up troops between the Nueces and the Rio Del Norte. He did this because he felt that Mexico

Why was the annexation of Texas such a controversial policy? The tension grew over slavery and whether Texas should be slave-holding states. At this time it was democrats and whigs however whigs held the majority of seats and were able to fight the annexation. Texas joined the United States Dec 29, 1845 the last day president Tyler was in office.They passed a Joint Resolution for Annexing Texas to the United States. The UK didn't want the US to become any bigger they tried to join Texas and scheme on Mexico to keep them from joining the union. This set off several small wars between the US and England.

It is worth noting here that the Americans were concerned about appearances, and that they did their best to provoke Mexico into a war, without having to bear the responsibility of actually starting the war. In his Personal Memoirs, Grant explained the mission of the U.S. Army in south Texas, "We were sent to provoke a fight, but it was essential that Mexico should commence it." The plan worked. The U.S. annexed Texas in February of 1846, and Polk immediately ordered Taylor to proceed to the Rio Grande. One of Taylor's patrols skirmished with a Mexican detachment and lost over twenty soldiers, including eleven dead, five wounded, and several captured. Polk immediately called for war. In his bellicose message to the U.S. Congress, the President announced that, "American blood had been shed upon American soil." He got his declaration of war.

At the time, the South wanted to expand slavery and spread farther than just the U.S. , or Manifest Destiny. But the North did not. The North did not support slavery at the time, which is why everyone in the U.S. other than the South was against westward expansion. When The U.S. annexed Texas, the industry and agriculture expanded just like the North and the South. Texas gave the U.S. more room to plant, live, and continue on with slavery.

The attack of the Alamo sparked Americans to help Texans in their fight against Mexico for their land. Again, when the outlook of war appeared to the Americans, "Remember the Alamo" launched those Americans in their rage against Mexico. After Polk was elected in 1845, Texas was annexed and became part of the Union on February 28; nevertheless, the problem with Mexico did not stop, actually, they had just begun.

In The War in Texas written by Benjamin Lundy he says “immediate cause and leading object of this contest originated in a settled design, among the slaveholders of this country,(with land speculators and slave traders) to wrest the large and valuable territory of Texas from the Mexican Republic, in order to re-establish the SYSTEM OF SLAVERY; to open a vast and profitable SLAVEMARKET therein; and ultimately, to annex it to the United States.” the slaveholders and slave traders want to annex Texas so they can spread slavery and gain more power. In Texas, excerpts from diplomatico Communications to Lord Aberdeen, British Foreign secretary written by William Kennedy says “It appears to me that the question of Annexation will be graduated in its progress by the relations of parties in the United States.” that the political parties are really pushing for annexation. That's why they send soldiers to Texas to fight in the Texas Revolution. After the United States annexed Texas it will lead to other events like the civil war to