Mexican American War Research Paper

Countries were becoming independent all throughout Latin America during the 1800s. The people of the United States expected great things of these freshly independent countries. Of these countries was Mexico, which achieved independence in 1821. Americans were excited when Mexico gained its Independence. They assumed great things were to become of the country. Mexico had an abundance of resources and even more land. Expectations became a harsh reality for Mexican California. The transition from colony to republic proved to be a difficult one. Although the era of independence can be described in so many words, it is important to acknowledge the unstable, vulnerable, exploitative aspects of Mexican California.

The second basic cause of the war was the Texas War of Independence and the subsequent annexation of that area to the United States. Not all American westward migration was unwelcome. In the 1820's and 1830's, Mexico, newly independent from Spain, needed settlers in the underpopulated northern parts of the country. An invitation was issued for people who would take an oath of allegiance to Mexico and convert to Catholicism, the state religion. Thousands of Americans took up the offer and moved, often with slaves, to the Mexican province of Texas. Soon however, many of the new "Texicans" or "Texians" were unhappy with the way the government in Mexico City tried to run the province. In 1835, Texas revolted, and after several bloody battles, the Mexican President, Santa Anna, was forced to sign the Treaty of Velasco in 1836 . This treaty gave Texas its independence, but many Mexicans refused to accept the legality of this document, as Santa Anna was a prisoner of the Texans at the time. The Republic of Texas and Mexico continued to engage in border fights and many people in the United States openly sympathized with the U.S.-born Texans in this conflict. As a result of the savage frontier fighting, the American public developed a very negative stereotype against the Mexican people and government. Partly due to the continued hostilities with Mexico, Texas decided to join with the United States,

     Along with the desire of new land, there were other contributing factors that initiated the war with Mexico. There were also political and economical factors that were as equally important in the start of the war. With most of the Mexican land below the 34o30` line, the Democrats and the southern states were pushing for the war. With the increased amount of representatives for the southern states, there would finally be a tiebreaker in the free-slave argument. Without saying, the Whigs of the northern states were opposed to the

The Mexican-American War was a result of Manifest Destiny.  Manifest Destiny was a belief that Americans had a god given right to expand their border all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Not only did Americans believe that they also had a right to the land, but they also believed that they had a moral duty to civilize its occupants, which included Native Americans, Mexicans, and Spanish speaking Catholics. According to Britannica, the Mexican-American War originated from the United States annexation of Texas in 1845. Texas had been in a border dispute with Mexico at the time of the annexation  therefore, the conflict transferred to the U.S. Mexico claimed that the border ended at the Nueces River, and the United States claimed it ended at the Rio Grande River.

All was well, Mexico, US, until, something went wrong. In 1821 Mexico declared independence from Spain. Texans won the battle of The Alamo in 1836 and Then the Mexican war started in 1846. The Americans were either justified or unjustified in their decision in going to war with Mexico. The Americans were unjustified in going to war with Mexico over Texas because they settled in their land without asking the Mexicans if they could.

Mexico has constantly attempted to keep up a steady association with The U.S, however the annexation of texas annoyed the Mexican government. The annexation of Texas to the United States was unsuitable for both lawful and security reasons, from Mexico's perspective. Mexico expressed that the annexation of Texas to the United States was an infringement of the 1828 fringe arrangement, which had perceived Mexico's sway over that region. Despite the fact that the Mexican country was gravely annoyed by the United States, because of its activity in Texas having a place with Mexico, the Mexican government was set up to get a high positioned official, who might touch base in this capital from the Unite States, having the ability to settle the present clash in a serene, sensible and respectable way. The United States suit to near none arrangements, they likewise requested for the privileges of the regions of California and New mexico, yet mexico decreases, and both go to

Was Texas really apart of the United States before the war? In 1821 Mexico got their independence. Americans cross the Nueces river in 1846. The United states was not justified in going to war with Mexico because Mexico got their independence in 1821, Americans cross the Nueces river into Mexican territory, and the United states robbed Texas from Mexico. One reason the Mexican war was not justified was Mexico got their independence a few years ago.

One reason the Mexican War was unjustified was that America stole land from Mexico.On April 24th, American soldiers were getting prepared for if the Mexican Army would come to American soil after what they did and they did(Doc.B:Par.3).When America completed the annexation of Texas,war was declared.American General Zachary Taylor and his troops were trying to occupy the city of Matamoros.When Mexican authority was filled in on the situation they continued instructing their troops to protect the border(Doc.C:Par.2 and 3).Jesus Velasco-Marquez stated,”The annexation of Texas to the United States was inadmissible for both legal and security reasons.Thus, when the Mexican government learned about the treaty

This gave the Americans more determination to gain the Texas, California and Mexican land because they wanted to prove they are stronger than Europe and can use this territory to increase their empire. Also, this scolding of America also illustrates the European countries not really concerned about America gaining this land because they still view America as a child, but America wants to change their view by gaining more land. The Americans did not just want to gain land to prove to their superiority or equality to their European relations, they also wanted the land for its resources. The Gold Rush of 1844 was one of the many reasons America needed California and many people moved to the state to become

One reason the Mexican War was not justified was because America pretty much stole Texas and other parts of the southwest from Mexico. A lot of Americans were settling in Texas before the war. “At this period,

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 Mexican American war started with a dispute over the southern border of Texas and public support of manifest destiny. Mexican want the southern border

Mexico and America had two different ideas of what was Mexico’s border and what America thought was there border. That’s when Polk decided to talk with the Mexicans, so Polk sent his men and they crossed Mexico’s border. Mexico offered to buy the land but Polk’s men said it was disputed territory so their for they could not buy it. Polk wanted Texas so he could have more land in America, but so did Mexico.

In 1846, president Polk declared war on Mexico after many border disputes and 12 American deaths caused by the Mexican army. At the time, there was no set border between southern America and the northernmost area of Mexico. This caused each country’s army to protect their supposed border leading to American deaths in the disputed area. Just one year earlier, Texas was annexed which led to the addition of the new state to America. Although some people may argue that the war was for selfish American motives, the Mexican American war was justified because of the government’s obligation to improve the lives of American citizens and failure on Mexico’s side to negotiate.

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