Manifest Destiny And The Mexican-American War

The American-Mexican war commenced in the year 1846 and lasted until 1848. The whole war began because of a strained relationship, between United States and Mexico. Which came to be, when Texas, gave part of Mexico 's land to the United States, when they had no right to declare themselves as part of the U.S.A. In the end, many Americans citizens did not support the war, but their was also many that did supported it. Their was a painting called manifest destiny the artist name was John Gast. The symbolic meaning behind this painting was

Film "Arizona Mexican Heritage: An American Story" The creation of the video stared with Pete Dimas personal experience upon his childhood, family and Mexicans in Arizona. Dimas notice in school that there were a small number of Chicanos, there wasn’t hardly any, not even in books there where unviable. With his knowledge he gave life to Chicanos and gave a brief introduction of the transformation of the United Sated of America by making this film "Arizona Mexican Heritage: An American Story" proving that Chicanos exist in the pass, now and future in the territory of what’s now America.

Furthermore, the war ended by the signing of The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and after millions of lives lost and being responsible for the start of it all, Santa Anna did not show any type of empathy towards his and fallen country. Additionally, the treaty signed at Guadalupe Hidalgo would not only leave Mexico in utter humiliation, but it would bring forth a separate country, rather than one of unity. I think that Santa Anna utilized his power, as president to give his final blow and sell the Mesilla Valley, his actions would be seen as a dictator who acts upon his own benefit and not what is best for his country. In conclusion, I believe that Santa Anna resorting to authoritarianism led to México losing the war.

forces quickly occupied Santa Fe de Nuevo México and Alta California Territory, then invaded parts of Northeastern Mexico and Northwest Mexico; meanwhile, the Pacific Squadron conducted a blockade, and took control of several garrisons on the Pacific coast farther south in Baja California Territory. Another U.S. army, under General Winfield Scott captured the capital Mexico City, marching from the port of Veracruz, virtually unopposed. The war ended in a victory for the United States. During this period, the leadership of the Mexican Army changed frequently. Political factionalism was intensely divisive and led at one point to open civil war in the capital.

The Mexican American War started in 1846 because of Mexican resentment caused by the 1836 loss of Texas and the American’s desire for Mexico’s more northern territory. “On September 9, 1847 after two years of fighting, the Mexican American war essentially ended when the American Army captured Mexico City after the Battle of Chapultepec”( 6). The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the war. United States leaders then acted morally superior in their negotiations of the treaty 1. During negotiations, United States officials viewed the “forcible incorporations” (1) of almost one half of Mexico’s land as an “event foreordained by providence and Manifest Destiny” (1).

The phrase “manifest destiny” was in the air, exciting United State citizens. President James Polk declared that it was America’s right to expand to the Pacific Ocean. However, the land west from Texas was Mexican soil. As a result, the United States asked to buy the California territory. When Mexico declined their offer, President James Polk needed an excuse to go to war with Mexico to steal California right from underneath them.

Mexico would not tolerate this discrepancy of borderlines and attacked the U.S. With the belief that Mexico had invaded American territory, Polk went to Congress to request a declaration of war, which he was granted. The Americans came out victorious in this war that lasted about two

policy towards the Mexican War of 1846. Dominated by the editors who strongly believed the concept of Manifest Destiny, the United States Democratic Review justified the war with Mexico. In the article titled, The Mexican War - Its Origin and Conduct, the author listed several reasons to war against Mexico such as the annexation of Texas, boundary dispute, the threat to the U.S. economic interests in the region and above all, the U.S. expansionist policy towards the West. Deeply influenced by the ideas of Manifest Destiny, President Polk framed his foreign policy in his presidency and successfully fulfilled the God-given mission to stretch the U.S. territory as far as the Pacific region, negotiate with the Great Britain to acquire the Oregon territory and sign the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo with Mexico in 1848. Without the ideas of Manifest Destiny, the U.S. expansionism would not thrive, the newly born democratic nation would not increase his territory astronomically and the young republic would not have enough political and economic power to be a giant at the stage of international

General Santa Anna marched north with a massive army, after the Texans had captured San Antonio. They overran the defenders at the Battle of the Alamo on March 6, 1836. The Mexicans were defeated at the Battle of San Jacinto. Santa Anna was captured, which led to Texas independence. Mexico still tried to reclaim Texas in the following years, but essentially Texas joined the U.S in the year

Whatever its true purpose, Manifest Destiny has indeed stretched the U.S territory and seized half of Mexico’s land. On the contrary, Manifest Destiny resulted in a conflict with

At the Battle of Buena Vista in February 1847, Santa Anna suffered heavy loss and was forced to withdraw. Winfield Scott landed in Veracruz and took over the city. They then began marching toward Mexico City, essentially following the same route that Hernán Cortés

Manifest destiny also affected the relationship with Mexico. Several factors led to the Mexican- American War in 1846. The factors were that the U.S citizens were moving into California and Mexico. Since there were many revolutions happening in Mexico throughout this time period the Mexican government was not able to protect the U.S citizens in this region. Another factor was that Mexico was upset that Texas declared independence from them and then the U. S annexed Texas in 1845.

“The fighting in Bexar raged with a house-to-house assault unlike anything the Mexican army had before experienced” (Lee, n.d.). General Cos’ surrendered from the Alamo on December 9, 1835 with 200 of his men dead and many more wounded. The Mexican surrender and the siege of the Alamo brought immediate retaliation from Santa Anna. He quickly assembled a force of 8,000 men and pushed mercilessly towards Texas. He was determined to crush all opposition and teach the Texans a lesson (Lee,

Jesús Velasco-Márquez, a modern-day Mexican professor of studies wrote an article in 2006 about the Mexican-American War. He said, “US historians refer to this event as ‘The Mexican-American War’, while in Mexico, we prefer to use the term ‘The U.S. Invasion... From Mexico’s point of view, the annexation of Texas to the United States was inadmissible for both legal and security reasons. ’’’ (Velasco-Márquez, 12). During the time of the independence of Texas, Mexico was ruled by the dictator General Antonio López de Santa Anna.

The United States war with Mexico continues to be a divisive topic among many people because of its background. The Mexican-American war was a fight between Mexico and America for land. America’s belief at the time was Manifest Destiny, which meant that they believed that America should extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific ocean. In the end, America benefited from the war and got the land. The United States expanded its size, achieving their dream of Manifest Destiny.