Unjustified To Go To War With Mexico

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 Mexican-American War was incorrectly named; it was not simply Americans vs Mexicans, but a war between opinions. America’s war with Mexico: a war for land, for the sake of Manifest Destiny, or perhaps, a war to be started and ended in victory by… a thief. This war was supported and criticized by Americans and Mexicans alike. Manifest Destiny was a belief that it was God’s Plan to for America to expand to the Pacific Ocean, and a very controversial belief, at that. Before this war of opinions, the US already created a tense relationship with its neighbor by providing aid to the Texas Rebellion, and later annexing Texas. The United States was not Justified in going to war with Mexico because Texas was signed over, with no extra land, America was obviously itching to go to war, and settlers agreed to become Mexican citizens in the first place

The United States of America has been through many wars, wars concerning many things such as land oil, pride and respect. However, when the United States went to war with Mexico, it was planned over greed. The Mexican- American war was a war provoked by the United States, in efforts to expand the coasts of the country. Mexico was a small under privileged country who had previously to the war had already lost part of their country (Texas). Needless to say this war was cut throat and violent, it was however one of the smartest business decisions America has ever made.

The United States was not justified in going to war with mexico because of the disobedience of Mexico’s freedom ordinance, an international belief of manifest destiny, and a dispute of territorial borders.

First reason of why America was not justified in going to war with Mexico because was because of America's invasion. “ the troops commanded by General Zachary Taylor arrived at the Rio Grande across from the city of Matamoros, increasing the possibility of a confrontation”. In other word this this evidence shows that Americans were not justified in going to war with Mexico because it was an invasion crossing the mexican border and claiming land without any approval from the mexican government . “...Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon

Roden, Phil. "Was the United States Justified in Going to War with Mexico?" The DBQ Project (2013): 315-19. Print.

[Texas was a great place to grow cotton because of great climate, and it was a big piece of land. Two groups of Tejanos and Americans began complaining about each other. The leader of Mexico General Antonio Lopez De Santa Ana soon stopped Texas from letting Americans into it because they were not following the rules. Americans wanted to annex Texas but the Mexican Government did not let the United States get Texas that easy.] The United States was Justified in going to war with Mexico.* One reason why The US was justified in going in war with Mexico was because The US wanted All of Texas so they can reestablish slavery and get a lot of cotton out of it.* [The author of this

The American and Mexico war had an effect on many people all around the world. Many people also stole things and killed each other just so they can live and be free. The war between America and Mexico had many conflict between each other. Many amount of lives was lost, and half of Mexico’s territory was lost. Not so many good things happened, like many tensions had emerged between Mexico and America. The U.S was more unjustified than justified for many different reasons. Although the United States war against Mexico resulted in the gaining of America’s most valuable land, the war itself was unjust because they wanted to protect the citizens, U.S wanted to expand slavery, and sent soldiers to their land which they thought was going to be a good idea.

There are many reasons that justified the war with Mexico and make us believe that it was a good idea to start with this war. First, one of the wishes of Polk was his ambition to make California and New Mexico, which in that time was property of

“Mexico was a catholic anti-slavery and they couldn’t keep the texans under control”(Roden 317). This quote shows that Texans were not following the Mexican’s rules. “I did not take long for these differences and didn’t want to revault”(Roden 325). This quote shows that the Mexicans did not want to go to war with Texas. The Texans wanted slaves but didn’t want to be Catholic. This information shows the Texans ignored the laws given by Mexico. The mexicans were being generous but the Texans revolted. This Information shows that the texans didn’t care about the rules. This evidence shows the US was not justified into going to war with Mexico. The first Texans ignored the laws angering the Mexican government and rebelled against the laws given. The Mexican government was generous and offered free land but the Texans ignored their laws and rebelled against the Mexican

A final reason why the Mexican War was justified was that President Polk sent a message to the Senate to explain about going to war with Mexico. “I had ordered an efficient military force to take a position between the Nueces and Del Norte.” (Polk 325) This quote shows that the U.S. army marched and stayed between the Nueces and Del Norte to fight the Mexican soldiers. “Polk was a strong supporter of Manifest Destiny.” (Roden 317) This quote shows that Polk was in agreement in accepting and accomplishing the plan of God. Paraphrased information: Polk was elected in late 1844 and did not want just Texas, he also wants California, too. (Roden 317) This information shows that Texas isn’t the only state America should own. The United States had

One reason that the Mexican-American war was not justified is that the Americans took land from Mexico. The annexation of Texas is an example of America taking land, stated in Document C. That was very wrong of the U.S to do at the time due to security and legal reasons for Mexico. Then Americans tried to take more land from Mexico by sending troops to near the Rio Grande River. As a security measure, the Mexicans decided to attack the American soldiers, killing 16 of the Americans. This shows that Americans were not justified for going to war with Mexico because Americans decided to send soldiers to invade the undisputed part of land between Texas and Mexico.

The Mexican War of 1846 was not a justifiable war based on the Just War Theory of jus ad bellum principles. The Just War Theory addresses the political leaders that are in charge of initiating war with another entity. The rules of applying the jus ad bellum to a war are based on six areas that address whether a war can be considered a just or unjust war. The most important rule is examining Just Cause as it sets the way for the rules that follow. Right Intention to go to war based on their Just Cause, Proper Authority and Public Declaration to determine if they could declare war and Last Resort being the final decision made if all other outlets were exhausted. As well as determining the Probability of Success in the