President James K Polk massively believed in the Manifest Destiny, the belief that the American people had a duty to expand westward across North America. This idea sparked a fire that believe it or not most didn’t want. The result: The Mexican-America war. While the war gained America five different states and was one of the largest territorial expansions in United States history, many critics believed that America was headed down a bad path. That we were going to end up like most great conquerors in the world, dead or with innocent blood on our hands that God will never forgive us for. Critics such as Henry Clay, Fredrick Douglass, Ulysses S. Grant all believed this war wasn’t going to do anyone any good. To really understand why this war …show more content…
Being a critic, he spoke about the war with Mexico and how he believed that his country was involved in an “unnatural” war that could have been prevented. Clay states “If General Taylor had permitted to remain… at the point of Corpus Christi; and if a negotiation had been opened with Mexico, in a true spirit of amity and conciliation, War possibly might have been prevented.” (University of Texas, 1846). The citizens were told that there still wasn’t peace between Mexico and Texas, and if the annexation of Texas were to happen a war would occur. Yet the government denied this statement and ensured that no war would take place. Clay believed that America was headed down a warlike and destructive path that would lead us all fatal consequences much like past conquerors. He compares the cities of Greece, Rome, and France lands of Alexander the Great, Caesar, and Napoleon. Asking the listeners “Do you believe that the people of… were benefited by the triumphs of their Captains?” answering no “Their sad lot was immense sacrifice of life, heavy and intolerable burdens, and the ultimate loss of liberty itself.” (University of Texas, 1846). He ends his speech with a reference to Christendom, which leads to my next critic who argued that this war was going to cost than currency but our
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
Starting off his short term as president, James K. Polk had expanded the nation by two-thirds through the addition of Texas, the Oregon boundary, and the conquest of all Mexican provinces north of 31 degrees. However, having been elected on a platform pressing for Oregon to a northern boundary of of 54 degrees 40’ and Texas to a southern boundary of the Rio Grande river, Polk came to an agreement with Britain on 49 degrees but went to war with Mexico in want of Texas, New Mexico, and California. The acquisition of Mexico was concerning because it surfaced the debate over the balance of power and slavery between the North and the South. Along with Polk’s decision, Democrats agreed in expanding territory because of their strong following of the Democratic doctrine, the Manifest Destiny, by expanding the nation’s territory through any means.
Walter Nugent believes that the Mexican War was an exercise in American Imperialism, he suggest that America was imperialistic from its very beginnings. Norman Graebner disagrees with Nugent’s theory; he believes that President James Polk took it in his hands and demanded to purchase New Mexico and California from Mexico, however, when Mexico refused Polk, he had no choice but to force the territories which led to the Mexican War. The war has definitely impacted society today. There is a ton of bitterness because of this war, even today presidential candidates have suggested their political views in regards to Mexicans. I believe that the Mexican War was an exercise in American Imperialism because America has always focused on the country’s
The Mexican-American War (1846-1848) marked the primary U.S. armed conflict in the main fought on foreign soil. It emptied a politically divided, militarily unprepared, all around unprepared Mexico against the expansionist-minded administration of U.S. President James K. Polk, World Health Organization believed the U.S. had a “manifest destiny” to unfold across the continent to the Pacific. A border encounter on the river started off the fighting and was followed by a series of U.S. victories. Once the mud cleared, United Mexican States had lost due to simple fraction of its territory, together with nearly all of current Golden State, Utah, Nevada, Arizona and New
The United States went to war with Mexico in 1846. The Manifest Destiny was what some some believed to be God’s plan to expand the United State’s territory. James K. Polk was elected in late 1844, and he was a believer in the Manifest Destiny. This is part of what caused some future disputes. Mexico had declared itself free from Spain in
The fight between Mexican and American troops officially opened fire on April 25, 1846. It was a war that was fought for land where Mexico battled to keep what they thought was their property. The war consisted of eight major battles that were fought in different locations and with different Mexican and American officers. The first battle fought was the battle of Palo Alto on May 8, 1846. The war took place between Fort Texas and resulted in the American troops winning and Zachary Taylor protecting the Rio Grande.
The year 1845, the American newspaper editor John O’Sullivan first coined the phrase, “Manifest Destiny”. This term is the belief that the United States should expand their territory from coast to coast. The Americans thought God was in their favor and should have the ability to take land. Without a doubt, might does not make right since the Americans did not have the right to be justified in the American acquisition of Texas and Mexico. The Americans were invited by the Mexican government to trade and settle in the northern territory, under these circumstances: learn Spanish, adopt the Roman Catholic religion and bring no slave nor democracy, which was not followed by the Americans.
Because the US took Mexico's territory to advance slavery, the Mexican-American War was not justified. The Americans believed that the best course of action for obtaining the territory was to go to war with Mexico due to the belief in Manifest Destiny. Although there were many negative effects, Manifest Destiny claimed that it was God's intention for people to take and settle on new territory all the way to the Pacific Ocean. The reality that the war ended up causing the slavery debate and the Civil War was the main result that had the biggest effect. The Mexican-American War's historical context is provided here.
“Texas won their independence in 1836”(Roden 317). Texas needed to prove that they were independent from Mexico without dragging the U.S. into it. In the battle of the Alamo, many Americans helped, however, the war was not ours, so why should this war be any different (Roden 269)? In Polk 's message to Congress asking them to declare war on Mexico he states: “I had ordered an efficient military force to take a position between the Nueces river and the Rio del Norte. This had become necessary to meet a threatened invasion of Texas.”
Because of the violent actions the Mexicans troops took against the American troop, James K. Polk demanded congress to declare a war against Mexico. Polk claimed that American blood was shed in American territory but in reality it still wasn’t anyone’s property because both countries claimed the land. At the time Mexico didn’t recognize the annexation of Texas. Mexico took the actions of opening fire after the “annex”, something James K. Polk advocated after his beliefs of manifest destiny which was his belief of expanding America into foreign soil. As soon as Mexico opened fire, the Mexican American war started.
and Mexican forces had taken place in U.S. territory.” “Further, legislators were at odds over whether Polk had the right to unilaterally declare that a state of war
The two conflicts that occurred in the 20th centuries was The Spanish- American War and The Russo-Japanese War. The two ways The Spanish American War conflict challenged Western colonial empires, was between the Spain and the United States, they both gained control over Cuba and Puerto Rico. Also, the Americans took over the Philippines and made it their territory. The Russo-Japanese War conflicts challenged Western colonial empires because it caused the military conflict, when Japan forced Russia to abandon its policy in the Far East, and when Great Britain and the Japanese allies became powerful.
The Mexican-America war was often viewed as an impactful event of the annexation of Texas. However, events during the Mexican-American war such as a disagreement over where the Mexican-American border should be located at, declining the unions incorporate, and the northern political were against of having a new slave state. Therefore, the actions during the Mexican-American war prove that Texas gained independence from Mexico, which was a positive effect for the United States because it gained land by winning the war. The Mexican-American war began of the idea if Manifest Destiny because they believe that god gave the United States the right to spread through the Pacific Ocean.
The Mexican-American War changed the Unites States of America in a monumental way. This war changed The U.S.A.’s relationship with foreign powers and the economic standpoint of the nation. The Mexican- American war, and its strong ties to manifest destiny, shaped the nation in a country bordered by two seas with a chance for common folk and foreigners to have a sustainable life due to the gold rush. The war can also be accounted for the downfall leading to the Civil War over the conflict of slavery due to the land purchased in the wars treaty. Conflict between Mexico and the United States began when Texas, previously part of Mexico, became part of the United States.
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.