Examples Of Isolationism In The 19th Century

Throughout the late 1830s and early 1840s, political controversy broke out over the annexation of Texas into the United States claiming that it was the destiny of the country to expand through the Manifest Destiny. Many Americans saw the potential addition of Texas as an essential component in Westward expansion, however, war with Mexico was an unavoidable risk and would create even more problems with slavery. Northern and Western regions of the Unites States opposed annexation because while the South wanted to add Texas into the Union to expand the slave industry. Annexation of Texas was also seen as revenge for the vast amount of American deaths during the Alamo and Goliad. Politicians battled back and forth on whether or not Texas should be in American control or not. I believe that the annexation of of

In the late nineteenth century, America engaged in the Spanish-American War. The aftermath of this war resulted in the acquirement of territories such as Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. However, not everyone felt these conquests were justified. Many Americans during that time period held the belief that the act of expanding into said regions went against democratic values and was, in fact, hypocritical of the values America frequently preached, while others seemed to believe that holding onto the territories was justified due to the fact that these newly-freed nations would be unable to govern themselves, and that it was America’s innate responsibility to aid them. Many Americans reacted to the end of the Spanish-American War by claiming

In the 19th century the scramble for control was under way when the Americans, Japan, and the Germans entered, other countries struggling with their empires. In the late nineteen century became a new age of imperialism in where technology and communications brought empire’s within reach. Many counties were joining the hunt fort new colonies, Americans preferred an indirect imperialism. The concept was first popularized during James K. Polk presidency, where he led the United States into the Mexican-American War of 1846. America’s version was that to “export products, ideas, and influence”, they viewed it as a “pure” version so they can share their values of democracy, and Christianity.

The Mexican government were seen as not knowing what they were doing, especially after them gaining independence from Spain in 1821 because the Mexican leaders lacked experience in politics, on top of being a nation that had deep-rooted connection to Spain’s ideologies rather than that of their own. While the United States thrived from the time of its colonial origins, for Mexico to modernize after gaining independence meant breaking its structures, destroying old institutions and building new ones whilst juggling an aggressive neighbor who eagerly sought more land. By putting into context the origin of the soon-to-be-at-war states, it is easier to comprehend why holding aggressive nationalistic behavior was the norm with the United States when they decided to take on its southern neighbor as the state’s population started to expand increasingly. The origins of the United States shows the attitude of “us versus them”, where Mexico’s top officials and administration were seen as incompetent and trickled down to its

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 Spanish-American War of 1898 could be seen as the pivotal point in foreign policy as it marks America’s first engagement with a foreign enemy in the dawning age of modern warfare however, one could also argue that the idea had always existed in American politics.

In 1821, when Mexico gained their freedom from Spain, they invited American settlers to move to the province of Texas, but there were many conflicts over laws. Texas decided to rebel from Mexico by fighting for their independence, and in 1836 when the Texans won, they applied for annexation to the United States. Out of respect for Mexico, the United States said no at first. Nine years later, in 1845 the United States congress voted to let Texas join the the United States, but Mexico was not happy about this as they believed that there were different borders, and that they still owned part of Texas. With a threat of them being attacked, United States troops were sent to protect the real Texas borders from Mexico, but there they were met and attacked by Mexican soldiers.

may recall this historic event as the "Mexican War", in Mexico it is referred to as "The U.S. Invasion." (Doc. 3). The U.S. troops led by Genreral Zachary Taylor did not have the rights to cross the border along the Nueces River and open fire against the Mexicans when the U.S. government knew the southern Texas area was clearly still being considered who's territory it is (Background). There was no clear establishment of the land being owned by the U.S. at the time. Even if they did think the land was owned by the U.S., they should have considered the Mexican perspective as they believed their border was marked by the Nueces River in contrast to the Rio Grande River (Background Map). The Mexican government ordered attacks on the U.S. only for their "defense" as any country would do if their land was being invaded. Also, Mexico saw Texas’s action to join the United States as a real big threat. The Mexican perspective is shown by Jesus Velasco-Marquez as he says,” The Annexation of Texas to the United States was inadmissible for both legal and security reasons.” (Doc. C). Nobody would want a very powerful and strong country right on their border. Mexico took Texas’s action as a “declaration of war” as it shows the U.S.' inconsideration and complete ignorance of the Mexican

Texas wanted independence and to become a free state but Mexico would not let them so the U.S annexed Texas. Texians didn’t obey the rules of the Mexican government because they could not learn Spanish due to the government not giving them resources to learn it. This shows Mexico caused Texans to leave. Santa Anna ripped the Mexican constitution and the Texans believed the Mexican government was

Slavery was widespread all over the Texas territory even though Mexico had abolished it in 1829. This caused tensions to rise between Texas and Mexico, so Texas decided if Mexico wasn’t going to allow them to have slaves they might as well belong to a country that would allow the practice.

Isolationism is defined as a “National policy of avoiding political or economic entanglements with other countries.” (Isolationism). Isolationism was a popular concept in the years between the revolutionary and civil wars. George Washington was a key supporter of isolationism, as he stated in his farewell address, “The nation which indulges toward another an habitual hatred or an habitual fondness is in some degree a slave.” (Washington).

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

In New York people of Dutch descent often attended services of the reformed church, well many merchants belong to the church of England, also known as Anglicans and later Episcopalians.

The Southerners desire for the spread of slavery played an integral part in the orchestration of the Mexican American War. As William Henry Harrison’s replacement, John Tyler caused a mess, and then urged for the annexation of Texas. After the success of the Webster-Ashburton treaty, he used the political momentum to led a campaign in 1843 with the help of Duff Green, a slavery supporter, to vilify Great Britain for their attempts in abolishing slavery in Texas. Then, in 1844 he attempted to secretly get a treaty ratified by the Senate which would’ve quietly annexed Texas to the United States. In The War in Texas, written in 1836 by Benjamin Lundy, Lundy stated

The pursut of independance in the later half of the 19th century in the American colonies developed slowly. As punitive and onnerous laws were emposed by the British crown and parliament, resentment grew among the American colonists. in 1774 the colonists established a seperate shadow goverment and began training troops near Boston Massachusets. After military conflicts  in 1875 at Lexington and concrod, and at the battle of Bunker Hill, the independence movement gained mommentum. George Washington named Commander of Continental Army in March, 1776 and representative of each colony meet in Philladelphia in June, 1776 to draft the historical Declaration of