Comparison Between Mexico And Walter Nugent's Polk

According to James Polk’s War Message,Washington, May 11, 1846, he states “I had ordered an efficient military to take position between the Nueces and the Del Norte.” This quote proves that between the Nueces and the Del Norte was Mexico’s land, that Mexico was just trying to protect. According to Jesus Velasco-Marquez from “A Mexican Viewpoint on the War With the United States”, Jesus states, “In the eyes of the [Mexican] government, the mobilization of the US army was an outright attack on Mexico.” This evidence shows that Mexico viewed the mobilization of the U.S army as an attack on them, and that Mexico wasn’t trying to escalate things, they were just trying to protect their

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

Walter Nugent and Norman Graebner explains their view on if the Mexican War was an exercise in American Imperialism or not. Nugent believes that the war was an exercise in American Imperialism. He explains that the United States were imperialistic from the beginning and to expand their territory was one of the primary objectives. Graebner on the other hand does not believe that the war was an exercise of American Imperialism. He suggests that the war occurred from a lack of communication and believes that President James Polk wanted a war. He made a decision to take over territory initially by negotiations but, those negotiations didn’t work which left him with his final decision; war. This war has impacted the United States and Mexico

He sent John Slidell to negotiate on allowing the U.S. to purchase the state of California. A huge amount of 40 million U.S. dollars was offered for the purchase of California and New Mexico but Mexico refused. It is wrong to classify James K. Polk as a bully because Texas initially asked to join the Union. Polk stated that “The Republic of Texas has made known her desire to come into our Union, to form a part of our Confederacy and enjoy with us the blessings of liberty secured and guaranteed by our Constitution.” Through his eyes, Polk was doing them a favor by fighting for Texas.

The war with Mexico was unjustified because of Manifest Destiny, Polk just wanted to go to war, and because of the border dispute.

Dr. Henderson’s purpose for writing A Glorious Defeat: Mexico and its War with the United States is to explain the causes of Mexico going to war with the United States in 1846, and the reasons Mexico suffered severely from it. Dr. Henderson’s focus throughout the book is not solely on the military tactics, but rather on the political and diplomatic maneuvering. This approach to the book is to provide to the reader the conflict’s real significance, as to the how and why the United States and Mexico went to war. This book does not point blame at either side, but tells the war from the Mexican point of view. Furthermore, Dr. Henderson explores Mexico’s weaknesses at the time and how those weaknesses led to the war with the United States.

According to Polk's Address to Congress calling Declaration of way, he states (Polk) “... but after a long-continued series of menaces, have at last invaded our territory and shed the blood of our fellow-citizens on our own soil…” Also written regarding the issue, Joshua Giddings speaks against the war in the Debate on war with Mexico, revealing Polk's true intentions by announcing,” The order was also to abstain from all aggressive acts toward ‘Mexican citizens’. It seems that the President expected General Taylor to find Mexican citizens located within the United States. This evidence is exposing President Polk of his manipulation to start the war. Knowing Mexican citizens were on U.S soil without warning official and not dealing with the problem when Mexican citizens were on US land proves that Polk was waiting for Mexico to react to the disputed territory issue. Creating tension that could be avoided if properly announced, which is polks wrongdoing for not dealing with the concern at hand.

Lincoln believed that Polk had invaded Mexico based on a lie. So he questioned the President Polk’s intent of going to war which was based on Mexico crossing national borders in order to draw first blood in the US soil. He challenged Polk in the House floor to prove the claim of waging the Mexican war by providing evidence and facts in a fair and just manner. Lincoln emphasized that Polk should not resort to rhetoric, evasions, and arguments and should be precise and transparent in presenting the facts that led to the war.

Mexican President Jose Herrera refused to negotiate (Stevenson 2009). After failed negotiations with Mexico, Polk ordered General Zachary Taylor to position his troops in the disputed territory, north of the Rio Grande River. Mexico, seeing this as an act of aggression struck first and killed several of Tyler’s men. After receiving word of the skirmish, President Polk petitioned congress, claiming Mexico “has invaded our territory, and shed American blood upon the American soil” (Tindall & Shi 2010, p. 401). In response, congress unanimously passed the resolution and on May 13, 1846, the United States declared war (Tindall & Shi 2010).

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

James Polk felt that it was his duty to take it by force and took the matter under his control. Since John Tyler’s decision to hold off the war until Mexico made the initial attack, Polk took it upon himself to provoke the Mexicans. To accomplish this, he sent troops to the Rio Grande and marched them along the border until the Mexicans made their attack. After the report of the attack was delivered, Abraham Lincoln proposed the “Spot Resolutions” to find the exact location of the American bloodshed on “American soil”. However, the Spot Resolutions were built upon false statements; the Mexicans’ attack was premeditated and actually took place on Mexican land. Polk was successful in starting the desired Mexican War which ultimately led to the defeat of the weaker adversary Mexico and the attainment of California.

President James K. Polk who was in power from 1845 to 1849 had been accused of provoking the War with Mexico. He believed that the war would give him the upper hand in gaining land

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?

President Polk received word that Mexican forces had ambushed two of General Taylor's companies along the Rio Grande. On May 11, 1846, President Polk asked Congress to declare war on Mexico, stating the following: "After reiterated menaces, Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon the American Soil. She has proclaimed that hostilities have commenced, and that the two nations are at war." (1) Two days later, the US Congress overwhelmingly votes in favor of President James K. Polk's request to declare war on Mexico.

This land that the Americans were fighting for was originally Mexico’s land. However, when Texas had declared its independence in 1836 America saw a chance to gain more land and hurriedly tried to convince them to join the United States. It was only then when Texas joined the U.S did they have border problems. This is because President Polk was power hungry and what shows power more than how much land a country has? And even though the land did not belong to them, nor did it Texas they still tried to claim it as theirs. Polk says “I had ordered an efficient military force to take a position between the Nueces and the [Rio Grande] This had become necessary to meet a threatened invasion of Texas [because of] the Mexican force... threatened [Americans] solely because Texas has determined... to annex herself to our Union...it was plainly our duty to extend our protection over her citizens and soil.” (Doc B) What Polk failed to take into consideration is that by mobilizing his armies and sending them into the disputed land Mexico had also claimed as theirs that it could be viewed as an invasion of their lands or an act of war. Mexico thought they were invading and merely reacted to the fact that they had soldiers from a country they were having conversations with. This whole battle that is responsible for starting the war could have been avoided if the