Mexican American War

One key issue between the two parts of the country was whether or not slavery would expand westward to any newly acquired territories. This had been an issue for a long time and ultimately after failing to reach a compromise the country fell back on popular sovereignty or letting people in the new territories decide whether or not they wanted slaver. This however provided no solution as can be seen in the incident “Bleeding Kansas”. This was a series of violent acts in Kansas between those who were for and against slaver.

LEQ #8 Following the Mexican-American War that occurred between 1846 and 1848, many issues arose. One major issue in question concerned the conflict of slavery between the states. With the United States acquiring nearly 525,000 square miles, the slave states saw this as an opportunity to acquire more territories and put the land to use via slaves. Those in the North felt they should not be slave states, as it would upset the balance of freed states and slave states. Overall, many things occurred during this time between the slavery controversy and its resistance, but one important event included the Ostend Manifesto.

It is September 1846, America is continuing to expand westward, and are at no pace to stop. Manifest destiny has completely dominated the west, and they might even be overstepping their own boundaries. America wants to take states like Texas and California, and Mexico isn’t having it. This is where it all begins. Mexican American war begins, Mexican American war ends, just like that.

The Mexican-American War took place a little while after Texas gained its independence in 1836. Firstly, The US did not want Texas apart of the Union because they wanted less slave states not more. The Mexican government started stating that they would do border raids and that if any invasion, and or takeover were to try to happen this would cause a war. Still in the 1844 election of United States President James K. Polk did not care he truly believed in “ manifest destiny ” which was another of say he believed that it was the “US destiny to spread across the continent to the Pacific Ocean. ”Believing in this President Polk tried to purchase what is now the U.S southwest.

Earlier antislavery movements proposed for a slow emancipation of slaves. However, the abolitionist movement called for immediate emancipation of all slaves. This made the movement more radical, and ultimately arose hostility between the Northern and Southern States (History.com, 2009). Previous antislavery advocates thought that a gradual emancipation was best in order to remain peace between the states.

The fate of their country by Michael Holt is a book made up of 3 to 4 sections, titled  Pandora's Box, The Wilmot Proviso, The Compromise of 1850, The Kansas-Nebraska Act. Author Michael Holt examines what caused the Civil War and the Pandora’s Box of sectional dissent territorial slavery issue over slavery into all current and future western territories also the Missouri crisis debate. It wasn’t slavery per the book but the debates about the extension of slavery into new territories and states that sent the nation careening into civil war, argues writer Michael Holt. He gives his readers an analysis of the partisan political forces, on the great debate over the extension of slavery into the American West.

The Mexican-American war altered the United States environmentally, culturally and politically. First, on February 2, 1848, Mexico signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo two years post the beginning of the war. The treaty not only achieved President Polk’s goal to achieve California from Mexico but also granted the U.S. over 500,000 square miles of new territory. The new land caused approximately 90,000 spanish speaking, mostly Catholic Mexicans under American jurisdiction. Second, Nativism, a rising anti-catholic and anti-immigrant deemed the Mexicans inferior.

American history is full of events that have changed the curse of its history, some more recent than others, an often overviewed war or conflict is the Mexican war, probably because it was only 13 years before of one of the most bloodshed periods and important periods of this country 's history, the Civil War; the Mexican War might have nit had as big as an impact as that of the Civil War, but nonetheless it was a period that is certainly important, we can also think that no war is ever unimportant (Shaara,10). Since the Louisiana purchase, there was a fervor for expansion among the American people, in 1845 the then independent nation of Texas was annexed by the United states (Shaara, 12). But there were several doubts about what was the real

Although the North and South had united for a common goal during the Mexican War, territories acquired as a result of the war caused tensions to rise again as the debate arose over whether these territories would permit or prohibit slavery (Schultz, 2013). Additionally, as the westward expansion continued, it was difficult for the two political parties to retain the support necessary from particular regions to uphold their principles on the slavery issue (Schultz, 2013). Supporters of the Democratic Party favored defending the rights of all men; however, southern Democrats strongly supported slavery in the new territories, thusly, in direct conflict with the rights of white as well as black men (Schultz, 2013). Arguments from the Northerners

Here is just a little information about before we get started. According to History.com (2017) The Mexican American War which is marked the first U.S. armed conflict mainly fought on foreign soil. This scared a politically divided and

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.

Justified is defined as having, done for, or marked by a good or legitimate reason. Texas won its independence in 1836. America’s wars are often very controversial. The United States was justified in going to war with Mexico because of three main reasons: Americans were killed, Texas was already annexed, and Manifest Destiny allows it.

When Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1821, a string of ruthless dictators and weak presidents made Mexico an easy target for its powerful neighbor, the United States. The US swooped in to expand its territory and its popular institution of slavery. By doing so, the US started a war with Mexico that was justified for illegitimate reasons. The Mexican-American War was not justified because the US took Mexico’s land for the expansion of slavery, and justified their taking advantage of Mexico when it was politically weak by hiding behind Manifest Destiny.

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.