The Mexican War lasted from 1846-1848 in the area now known as Texas.
What began as several small disputes eventually led into an armed conflict between the considerably new nations of Mexico and the United States. The geographical and political disputes are the most likely causes of the war. These causes of this war became significant, when the outcome gave the United States a platform to become one of the most powerful countries in the world.
The first sign of problems between the two countries began when the United States bordered Mexico after the Louisiana Purchase. “With these areas now available, American settlers began to move into them, and from there, they began to enter illegally the sparsely inhabited Mexican territories of California ” Nardo pg 21. Mexico was unable to deal with these invaders at the time because they were still dealing with their revolution, but after the Mexican Republic was established Mexico realized that the United States expansion could be a threat. Mexico had recently acquired its independence from Spain in the 1820’s and America in the later half of the 1700’s. These new nations had were unfamiliar with solving their disputes without war. “Although the new country had established democratic form of government, most of the former class differences among its citizens still remained. Like Mexico the United States had extremes of wealth and poverty ” Nardo pg 12. Mexico believed in equality for all people even though they had differences in their social class. The United States also believed in equality for all people, even though slavery was practiced by American citizens.
The Essay on State Of War Locke Bush President
Our Current State Of War A "State of War" is a period when two nations, parties, or even individuals are in open and armed conflict with each other. But how does this come about, and how would John Locke and President George W. Bush feel about how it is that a state of war originates? What actions must take place for war to exist? Is there a period of time that must be spent deliberating the ...
The differences in which each country ran itself caused a small To try and help situation between Mexico and the United States, a law student named Steve Austin developed a proposal for the American settlers in Texas problem. “Austin promised that the settlers would give up allegiance to the United States and become Mexican citizens. They would convert to Catholicism and obey Mexican laws ” Nardo pg 17. This idea backfired when the settlers in Texas disobeyed Mexican laws. They were too used to having free religion in the United States and refused to become Catholic. There were several armed revolts in Texas to any enforcement of the Mexican law. These uprisings by the United States settlers intensified their feelings toward each other. The possibility of the annexation of Texas by the United States further irritated the developing situation. The Mexican Army clearly outnumbered the Texan Defense and slowly but surely Mexico would end the revolts in Texas.
Though with the help of the United States, Texas would be able to fight the Mexicans. “Subsequently in the minds of those who believed that the United States forced war on Mexico as part of preconceived plan forces had in time of peace encamped in and marched across the territory below the Nueces claimed by Mexico-though, for that matter, all Texas to the Sabine was so claimed, and Mexico had announced more than once that entry of Texas into the Union was in and of itself to be regarded as equivalent to a declaration of war ” Henry pg 28.
Similar feelings were also shared on the other side of the border. “President Jackson, nearing the end of office, feared that to annex would mean war with Mexico and an upheaval in domestic politics. Not until the day before he left the White House would he even recognize the Republic of Texas” Meltzer pg 41.
Though the other reason that Texas wasn’t immediately annexed was a slavery issue. The North knew that Texas would enter as a slave state. Even though this was not want the North wanted eventually Texas was annexed. “For several years the politicians, not yet ready to meet the slavery issue head-on, dodged any debate on annexation. Texas did not stand still meanwhile. She attracted thousands of settlers with more liberal offers of land than the United States would make.
The Essay on The War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War
... The Mexican American War was partly began by the president and Mexico together. Polk wins the Election of 1944, and Tyler annexes Texas on ... disputed territory. So both of these wars are started with the expansion of the United States’ boarders as a main idea. ... and most were incompetent, state militias, especially New York, never left the state to fight. Early in the war the US captures Toronto ...
Within a decade the Texan population had jumped to 142,000. And by now, across the border, Americans were ready to act on annexation” Meltzer pg 40. The annexation of Texas by the United States caused more dispute between the two countries. The Sabine was established as the boundary between United States Louisiana and Texas, but when Texas became part of the United States the dispute over where the Texas and Mexico boundary would be. “While continuing to deny the existence of Texas as an independent state and its power to annex itself to the United States, and in no way abating the Mexican claim to everything up to the Sabine, Mexico also asserted subsequently a lesser claim to the Nueces River as a boundary line between the states of Tamaulipas and Texas ” Henry pg 18.
With this border set up the United States wanted to send troops to protect them from the bordering Mexico. General Taylor was instructed to go on or near the Rio Grande, while making sure not to cause annoyance with the Mexicans on the east side of the river. “So doing, Taylor placed himself on the right, or south bank of the Nueces ” Henry pg 20.
Now that Texas was a part of the United States, it would be increasingly harder for them to defeat Texas. Though the Mexicans had some advantages.
“The United States was far wealthier and more highly populated, there were more trained soldiers in the Mexican army than in the American. Mexican cavalry was rated better than that of the United States by European observers, and cavalry would be important in the theater of warfare across the border” Downey pg 64.
Eventually the United States would get fed up with the antics of Mexico. “United States ships, visiting Mexican ports on legitimate errands, were delayed and their officers insulted. In April, 1840 numbers of Americans and other foreigners living in California were suddenly arrested, beaten, and thrown into prison” Downey pg 79. The constant harassment of Americans led the United States to defend their people and show that these action would not go unpunished.
The Essay on A Mexican Tejano in American Texas
... the Battle of the Mexican American War lasted two years ceding nearly half of its territory from Mexico to the United States. These were The ... (“American History”, 2012). When the Anglo Men first appeared in Texas, Tejano settlement composed three areas to separate the regions in ...
The slave interest at the time could be an additional reason for the Mexican War. The southern slave states had good reason to support the war. “This interpretation maintains that the slave interest sought more territory for cotton cultivation and for additional slave states to balance the northern free states in the national legislature” Rappaport pg 35. The United States involving themselves in the war would allow them to acquire Texas. Texas would be another place for agricultural support. Furthermore, Texas would most likely join the United States as a slave state. This would make the number of free and slave states equal. Another possible reason for the Mexican War is to complete manifest destiny and for freedom. By involving themselves in the war they were able to obtain land and power. The idea in America was that the more land, the more places to prosper. This idea caused America to expand at rapid rates. “No other nation ever expanded so far and so fast in one generation as the United States.
The national frontier leaped from the banks of the Mississippi to the shores of the Pacific” Meltzer pg 10 . It was also highly supported. “Many Americans, Northerners and Southerners supported the war because they believed it was America’s destiny to cover the whole northern if not southern continent”
Rappaport pg 44. America was bent on controlling New Mexico and California one way or another to complete their manifest destiny dream. “An attempt at a peaceful settlement was made by Polk in November, 1845, when he sent John Slidell to Mexico City to try to buy California and New Mexico for thirty million dollars. His mission failed” Downey pg 69. Several months later the United States took action achieve manifest destiny and declared war on Mexico on May No matter what the cause of the Mexican War was, this event helped to secure America as a major power. Now that the United States stretched from ocean to ocean his country would begin to thrive for centuries. It is believed that the causes of the Mexican war were geographical due to the yearning of manifest destiny. The idea of stretching across a continent would enough to cause the United States involvement with Mexico. To annex Texas and gain all its resources and power is another reason for the Mexican war. At the time the views on reasons for becoming involved were of all sorts. “Some believed Mexico deserved chastisement for not honoring valid American claims, rejecting John Slidell, and for the mistreating of Americans living in Texas. Some thought Mexico would so greatly benefit by an American military victory followed by democratization of that country as to warrant war. Some were convinced that American acquisition of Mexican territory would help to fulfill the divine plan that fertile soil be in the hands of a superior people for its “beneficent utilization”.
The Essay on Mexican War and the Spanish American War
... the United States, are always looking to profit themselves. During the Mexican war and the Spanish-American War, the dominance and ethnocentric ideals that America held ... of innocence, Mexico cannot escape blame for the war. Mexico never had a strong centralized government to negotiate with a foreign state. Mexico was never ...
Some were outraged by the Mexican attack on American troops on “American soil” on May 9,1846” Rappaport pg 11. Issues like New Mexico, California, slavery, and other less important reasons were all apart of causing the Mexican War. The results of the Mexican War led America to gaining a few territories, but the long term affect that it had on America can still be seen today.
Bibliography:
Citation Page Downey, Fairfax.Texas and the War with Mexico. New York: American Heritage Publishing Co., Inc. 1961. Henry, Robert. The Story of the Mexican War. New York: Fredrick Ungar Publishing Co. 1961.
Meltzer, Milton. Bound for the Rio Grande; The Mexican Struggle, 1845 1850. New York: Random House, 1974. Nardo,Don. The Mexican-American War. San Diego: Lucent Books, 1991. Rappaport, Armin. The War With Mexico: Why did it happen?. New York: Harper and Row Publishers, Inc., 1974.
