The French Intervention Of Mexico

Leading up the Mexican-American war, a multitude of events occurred that catalyzed the conflict. For starters, the idea of manifest destiny heavily played into the conflict within this region. Manifest destiny was the idea that the United States had a “divine right” to expand westwardly and would do so at any cost. Nearly all presidents of the time cited this idea as a justified means for illegally seizing land in hopes of using it to aid in U.S expansion. However in 1803, President Thomas Jefferson purchased a parcel of land from France, known as the Louisiana Purchase, that nearly doubled the size of the United States overnight. But with it, this land brought up many

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the former President of India, once famously said, “War is never a lasting solution for any problem”. Every single country has had some sort of conflict with another country, and often the solution is war. However, many do not realize that most wars (including the Mexican-American War) permanently damage the diplomatic relations of countries. Because of the damage of the Mexican-American War, it is unlikely that the bond between America and Mexico will ever be the same. The events leading up to the war began when Mexico won its independence from Spain, and in an effort to increase the population of the country, Mexican leaders welcomed American settlers to colonize the Mexican territory of Texas. However, conflict arose

After the people of Mexico freed themselves from Spanish control, they faced difficulties trying to officially establish themselves as a country. Despite their independence, Mexico had to also live with the aftermath of Spanish colonialism. Part of the aftermath included socio-political issues amongst the Mexican people. In an effort to establish themselves as a nation, they first had to free themselves from a Spanish ideology, for Mexico truly was not free after their independence. The socio-political predicaments contribute to the evolution of modern day Mexico.

All of the aforementioned factors contributed to the independence movement of Mexico. However, the main steps towards independence came because of Napoleon’s invasion of Spain in 1808. The monarchy was greatly weakened when Napoleon gave the crown to his brother causing the people of Madrid to revolt. With Spain’s back turned, the leaders of New Spain began to argue amongst themselves. The viceroy was forced to allow the Criollos to participate in administration. Then, a group of Peninsulares, those who had been placed in many of the administrative positions, did not like that the Criollos were gaining any influence in the government. They staged a coup d’etat and overthrew the viceregal government.

This was the biggest incentive that was offered to Mexico for helping Germany if the United States declared war. It also was a enough to cause uneasiness for the U.S. because it did not know if Mexico could refuse such an offer, knowing that they had bamboozled Mexico out of more than half of its land. But this was difficult for Mexico to believe because it was such an immense promise that they believed Germany would not follow through even if they did agree to an Alliance.

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 war with Mexico abruptly started with the annexation of Texas. Though the land was originally Mexico’s, the U.S had taken part of the territory in the belief of Manifest Destiny. America thought of it as god’s

There were many events that led to the battle. years before the battle, Mexico had fought many wars, including one against America. These wars left Mexico sink deeply in debt. Benito Juarez suspended payments to England and France and broke diplomatic relations. The suspension of payments made France angry and they desperately wanted the money so, France invited England

In Senator James Buchanan’s Letter to Edward D. Gazzam, 1844, (Document D) he said that Texas should remain independent but pointed out that, “But suppose that this cannot be, and that it should be satisfactorily established that we must either admit it or see it pass under the dominion of Great Britain; -what ought then to be done?” Some Americans feared that Britain would try to take over Texas if America did not. Briton William Kennedy pointed out in his diplomatic communications to Lord Aberdeen, 1844, (Document F) that war with Mexico would, “Produce an embarrassment of affairs, and would leave warm work and divided laurels for [Tyler’s] successor.” John O’Sullivan’s article in Democratic Review, 1845, (Document G) said that other nations have taken actions to stop the expansion of the United States, “This we have seen done by England, our old rival and enemy; and by France, strangely coupled with her against us.” Foreign relations worries were another cause of the war with Mexico, along with the desire to expand slavery and internal political

Prior to the Mexican-American War, there were many events that lead to the cause of the war. For many years, Americans and Mexicans had very little direct contact, because they were separated by huge tracts of undeveloped territory. However, in the 19th century, the U.S began to rapidly expand westward. By 1819, U.S had gained the Louisiana Territory and also the Arkansas and Missouri Territories, which bordered Mexican lands. American settlers began to pour into these territories. Then they began to illegally enter the sparsely inhabited Mexican territories of California, New Mexico and Texas. Mexico saw U.S expansion as a threat. A man by the name of Stephen Austin made a deal with Mexico

     The factors that started the Mexican War lay heavily on American shoulders. Whether if the factors were created by social, political or economical needs, they have all become the center of attention for the question of being a national interest or disgrace. However, the Americans felt that they existed for “…spreading the blessings of peace.” according to Andrew Jackson. There will always be controversy between the two sides of this matter, the Americans who feel that it had to be done, to the Mexicans who felt that it was an injustice done to their nation.

Polk would not have the same peaceful negotiations with Mexico over disputed land as he did with Great Britain. Though General Santa Anna signed a treaty recognizing Texas' independence in 1836, both parties would dispute ownership of the land between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande until 1848. When the United States annexed Texas and stood behind its claim over the disputed land, the Mexican government became infuriated with America and broke off all diplomatic relations and started to prepare for war. The Mexican-American War would ultimately start over disputed land in Texas. It would turn into so much more. Polk's final goal was to gain control of all the Mexican territories to the west of Texas. Polk continued to try to resolve this problem peacefully through a treaty with Mexico, but they refused to hold any diplomatic talks with Polk's representatives. This forced Polk to have his military occupy the disputed land all the way to the Rio Grande. General Taylor informed Polk that soon after arrival to the Rio Grande the Mexican army attacked him and

The French had landed in Mexico along with Spanish and English troops five months earlier to collect unpaid debts. In 1855Benito Juarez (minister of justice) issued reforms called

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.

The Reform War was a civil war between the Mexican people, the conservatives vs. the liberals.  With the unhappy reaction of the liberals chaos broke out and Comonfort resigned and Benito Juarez became president. “Comonfort died in an ambush in 1863”(Biography in context) With Juarez President the Reform War ended. The liberals considered this a political victory over the conservatives, having one of their own in office. “Juarez would free Mexico from the most flagrant remnants of neocolonialism.”(Scholes) After the Liberals defeated the conservatives, President Juarez had more to worry about. Some European countries were very upset with Mexico and their unpaid debt with them. They sent troops to Mexico but, they all withdrew themselves when they saw that French dictator Napoleon was planning to overthrow Juarez’s government. The overthrow of the Juarez government started the French Intervention in Mexico in 1862. With the help of the United states Juarez managed to gain back control, he became a hero in the eyes of most liberal Mexican’s for not backing down and running out the French.