Causes Of The Mexican-American War

Included in his plan for expansion was the reannexation of Texas which Polk believed was imperative to America’s growth. Polk considered the annexation and war as a way to obtain Mexican territories and fulfill manifest destiny. While president, Polk convinced Congress to authorize the mobilization of military action against Mexico after citing that Mexican forces had attacked and killed U.S. soldiers. Critics of Polk believed that the declaration of war against Mexico was due large in part of Mexico’s refusal to sell California to America and Polk’s effort to acquire “new land for the expansion of slavery” (Foner 465-468). According to Grant’s memoir, Americans who colonized in Texas disregarded Mexico’s laws, “introducing slavery into the state from the start” regardless of the act being abolished by the Mexican government. In addition to slave ownership, the colonist established an independent system of government in Texas and in 1845 seceded from Mexico. Grant’s description of the colonists in Texas not only illustrates the lack of respect that many Americans and the government had for its neighboring country but strongly suggests the annexation of Texas was a planned acquisition of new territory to expand slavery in the United States

The Mexican-American War was driven by the idea of "Manifest Destiny" (Which is the belief that America had a God-given right to expand the country's borders from sea to sea) This belief would eventually cause a great deal of suffering for many Mexicans, Native Americans and United States citizens. Following the earlier Texas War of Independence from Mexico, tensions between the two largest independent nations on the North American continent grew as Texas eventually became a U.S. state. Disputes over the border lines sparked military confrontation, helped by the fact that President Polk eagerly sought a war in order to seize large tracts of land from Mexico.

Over the next 9 years, Texas applied twice to become part of the United States. Congress said no both times because the northeast didn’t want another large slave state and Congress did not want to anger Mexico. When Polk became President, he annexed Texas. They asked to buy California from Mexico in 1845 but this angered Mexico very much. After Mexicans and Americans had a little border dispute, Polk decided he had a reason to go to war.

The Mexican American war happened for many reasons. Around 1835, Texas went against the Mexican government. "One of these disputes was the question of the boundary between Texas and Mexico (Downey)." The Mexican government owned Texas at the time. In 1844, James Polk was elected President. "More

even more, and was determined to have California and New Mexico. These territories belonged to the Mexicans, but when Polk tried to buy the areas, the Mexican officials wouldn’t even meet him. When the U.S. annexed Texas, tension escalated on both sides, since Texas and Mexico already couldn’t agree on a border. In April of 1846, Mexican soldiers fired on American troops, which led to Congress declaring war on Mexico.

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.

The Mexican War was undertaken after the failed attempt of the United States government and John Slidell to buy California from Mexico. It failed due to the weak link between the two countries caused by the annexation of Texas. President Polk claimed, as stated in Polk’s War Message to Congress on May 11, 1846 (Doc H), that the Mexicans had spilled American blood on American soil. In the order from Secretary of War William L. Marcy to General Zachary Taylor (Doc E), Marcy says that if Mexico shows any sign of aggression that it would be taken as an act of war. To the President and to the other government officials this was an act of war and therefore declared war on Mexico. With the two armies lined up aimed at each other at the

It was the mid-19th century and the phrase “manifest destiny” was ablaze across the country. James K. Polk had just been elected as president for his views on expanding the United States coast to coast. He added Texas to the Union with hopes of gaining California as well. During which, Mexico and America argued over the border of Texas; whether it was the Rio Grande or the Nueces River. The president offered to buy the land from Mexico, but they refused, still viewing Texas as part of their own country.

A final reason why the Mexican War was justified was that President Polk sent a message to the Senate to explain about going to war with Mexico. “I had ordered an efficient military force to take a position between the Nueces and Del Norte.” (Polk 325) This quote shows that the U.S. army marched and stayed between the Nueces and Del Norte to fight the Mexican soldiers. “Polk was a strong supporter of Manifest Destiny.” (Roden 317) This quote shows that Polk was in agreement in accepting and accomplishing the plan of God. Paraphrased information: Polk was elected in late 1844 and did not want just Texas, he also wants California, too. (Roden 317) This information shows that Texas isn’t the only state America should own. The United States had

While often thought of as a small and insignificant war fought by the Americans, the Mexican-American War serves a lot of importance to the foundation and history of our country. This war determined whether or not the United States would become a dominant power on the continent and it, more importantly, established the size of the nation. The Mexican-American War lasted from 1846-1848, but by the time President James Polk took office in 1845, United States-Mexico relations were already off to a bad start. While the Mexican-American War was mainly caused by the idea of ‘Manifest Destiny’ and the Texas War for Independence/Annexation, it was also a major turning point in the debate over slavery in the United States because of the Missouri Compromise, Compromise of 1850, and the Wilmot Proviso.

The Mexican-American was very important to our country. We not only annexed Texas but, gained other states what is now modern day California, Utah, and Nevada. Mexico also obtains from the war which was debt relief. This paper explains how America and Mexico went from enemies to allies.

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

In 1845 Texas was annexed as a state, however disputes between America and Mexico remained concerning where the border would be located. President Polk at the time had no choice but to send troops due south to defend Texas and the Thornton affair, won by the Mexicans, would force congress to declare war on Mexico.

The war with Mexico is long remembered as an episode, and by no means is it an unimportant one. With the events that led up to its happening, from the Manifest Destiny to the disputes on territory, it has severely marked the United States. American historians regard the Mexican-American war as “the foulest blot on our national honor”. (sfmuseum.org) Unethical actions were taken gain Mexican territory. Polk and his hunger for land drove him to find some devious way to fight a war with Mexico. His belligerent attitude in regard to this war was the “foulest blot on our national honor.” However, as one studies the events that led to it, was it an unprovoked act of aggression? Or did the US unjustifiably lure Mexico into one of the bloodiest wars on American soil?

The Mexican-American war, also known as the Mexican war happened between 1846 and 1848 with the participants being United States of America and Mexico. Texas, previously a Mexican state, was the primary cause of the war. A series of disagreements had occurred between Texans and the Mexican government leading to Texas declaration of its independence in 1836. Later, Texas decided to join the United States as the 28th state and this infuriated Mexico. Additionally, border disagreements came up with Mexico claiming the border was at Nueces River while Texas claimed it was at Rio Grande River. James K. Polk, the president, sent his army to protect the border which ended up in shooting between Mexican and American troops. It is after this that