Essay On Mexican American War

As stated in President James Polk’s war message of 1846, “...I had ordered an efficient military force to take a position ‘between the Nueces and the Del Norte [Rio Grande].’ This had become necessary, to meet a threatened invasion of Texas by the Mexican forces” (Document B). From the perspective of the United States, the people of Mexico were not authorized to cross the Rio Grande into American territory. However, since the Treaties of Velasco that Santa Ana signed were invalid, Texas still belonged to Mexico. Mexican troops were not “invading” Texas; they were trying to retain the land that had been stolen from them. Therefore, President Polk had no right to send American troops to Mexican territory. Some may argue that the war was justified because Mexican troops attacked American soldiers on American territory. For example, they contend that, “Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon American soil” (Document B). The United States declared war against Mexico because they believed American soldiers had been attacked by Mexican troops in American territory. However, since the annexation of Texas was illegitimate, that territory still belonged to Mexico. The American soldiers were not killed on American land; they were killed on Mexican land. Thus, America’s reasoning for declaring war was inaccurate, and the Mexican-American war was

How the United States stretched from sea to shining sea by being fair and unfair sometimes. The Mexican war started on April 25, 1846 when Captain Seth Thornton of the United States Army and his 70 sailors were attacked by greater Mexican force. This happened in the disputed territory north of the Rio grande, reports say that 16 Americans were killed and the number of Mexican soldiers that were killed it unknown. Was the United States justified in going to war with Mexico? The United States was justified in going to war with Mexico because of manifest destiny, border distributes, and annexation of Texas.

The Mexican War was viewed as one of the most controversial wars in United States history. Originating from the annexation of Texas, or the lack thereof in Mexico’s eyes, the final spark to cause the war was an incident between soldiers of both countries in disputed land. Both Mexico and the US claimed to have been provoked by the other, and that they were only protecting their country. Many US citizens argued the war, as it appeared President Polk was using it for reasons other than self defense. By going to war with Mexico, the US faced the possibility of gaining much more of Mexico’s land and extending slavery in the country. The United States' decision to go to war with Mexico was based on a desire to extend slavery, to gain land they had

The prelude to the war began in the 1830s when Mexico decided to open up their home to America. Due to the fact that Mexico was under populated, and had too much land they

“Restless spirits, discontented at home… joined them… the work of rebellion sped.” (Sumner 329) It shows they rebelled. “But now,... Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon the American soil.” (Polk 325) The Americans made claims that were false. The land between the Rio Del Norte is the American border. (Polk 325) Not their official land. Mexicans passed the border. (Pole 325) Mexico did nothing wrong. The Americans were not justified because they broke Mexico’s rules. They broke too many rules to be justified in a war that could have been easily

America was justified in going to war as Mexico invaded the country,American troops were killed by the Mexicans,and Mexico decided to strike first.When Texas declared its independence from Mexico in 1836 and stated that the Rio Grande was the border boundary.However in 1846,Mexican forces decided to cross the border line as it was known as an invasion against the US.On Document B President Polk stated, “The Congress of Texas,by its act of December 19,1836, had declared the Rio del Norte to be the boundary of that Republic.”(Doc B)On April 24th,1846,an American force of 70 men were dispatched to camp north of the Rio Grande. However,a larger Mexican force,decided to attack the American force where 16 American soldiers were killed.On Document

As Texans began demanding freedom, they deciding to away from Mexico, causing tensions between the United States and Mexico. In 1845, tensions began to lead to threats between the two countries when the United States decided to annex Texas into their country and ultimately led to the Mexican-American war. The U.S. was not justified in going to war with Mexico. A reason is that James K. Polk, president at the time, decided to send American soldiers onto disputed territory which Mexico thought was theirs. Doc C is an article written by Jesus Velasco-Marquez discussing the Mexicans viewpoint on the war with the United States in 1846. According to Doc C,¨In the eyes of the Mexican government, the mobilization of the US army was an outright attack

It’s 1846 and a war has begun, thousands dead, and only half of Mexico is left. This war took place on the “Texas side” of the Rio Grande. The war ended in 1848 after mass destruction took place. The war was called the ‘Mexican War” or the ‘US Invasion” depending on what side you were on. Many things led to the Mexican War. One event was that John Sidell was asked to leave Mexico City because he angered the Mexican government. Also, James K. Polk became president of the United States in late 1844. The last major event that led to the Mexican War was that Congress voted to annex Texas (Background Essay, par 6-7). Other previous events that led up to this war was the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, Texas

But Mexico did not want to give up Texas and they did not want to sell California. After the attack on American troops by Mexican forces on disputed territory, president Polk asked Congress and the outcome was voted overwhelmingly in his favor of war with Mexico. Was the United States justified in

As the Americans crossed the Sabine River with their slaves they started a war that would affect two countries forever.In years before Americans showed how land-hungry they were when they had welcomed land from the Oregon territory in 1846.Did America have good reasoning in going to war with Mexico?No,but it was not always the Americans fault.Mexico did shed American blood on American soil and attack groups of American soldier.Americans were unjustified in going to war with Mexico because they stole land,disobeyed laws,and ignored Mexican authority.

The Americans fought a unaccountable war with Mexico during the years 1846 to 1848, But were the Americans justified going to war?

The territory between the Rio Grande and the Nueces River was disputed, so the Mexicans were able protect the land in which they believed was theirs. Because of the dispute between the land, both countries thought that the land was theirs. Furthermore, Texas was annexed without the consent of Mexico. President Polk used this as an excuse to start war, but things could have been avoided. For example, the U.S. bought land for railroads from Mexico during the “Gadsden

The Mexican War broke out due to events leading up the the Annexation of Texas. The adoption of California to the U.S. was a major event that struck the citizens of Mexico.

The US had already taken Texas and now they wanted California, but was the US really justified to go to war. Many people can argue on both sides of this with evidence. US had just taken Texas or on the other hand US wanted California. Even though their both good arguments, in the end the US was justified in going to war with Mexico. Some of the reasons are Mexico killed 16 American soldiers, America needed land, and Mexico had crossed the border.

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