The Mexican War led to many different feelings in the United States. It split an even larger gap between the Democrats and the Whigs and incited many arguments between both groups. The main thing that provoked this was the annexation of Texas.
President James Polk claimed that no other power similarly situated would have refused the annexation of Texas, which I believe to be true. England annexed both Ireland and Scotland for their nation, Great Britain. It was only a matter of time before the U.S. moved further westward and seized Texas. The annex was not unconstitutional though. It does not say anywhere in the constitution that one shall not annex territory to become a new state. Yes, this did lead to war, but nothing in the constitution says anything against annexing a state.
The Democrats believed that the Mexicans were the cause of the war while the Whigs believed otherwise. As Polk said in 1846 “…after reiterated menaces, Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory, and shed American blood upon American soil. She has proclaimed that hostilities have commenced, and that the two nations are now at war.” This incited many unpleasant feelings towards Mexico from many Americans. However, there was a dispute where the Texas boarder actually was betweens Texans and Mexicans. Texans believed the boarder was the Rio Grande when it was really at the Corpus Christi. In 1847 “General Taylor was directed by the President of the United States, to occupy the east bank of the Rio Grande, being the extreme western part of the territory claimed by Texas, the boundaries of which had been designated as an “open question” to be determined by “negotiation”. General Taylor broke up his quarters at Corpus Christi on the 11th March, and, proceeding across this disputed territory, established his post, and erected a battery, directly opposite the Mexican city of Matamoros, and, under his directions, the mouth of the Rio Grande was blockaded, so as to cut off supplies from the Mexican army at Matamoros.” Charles Sumner, an activist about peace, anti-slavery, and race equality, said. So, the American soldiers that were killed could possibly not have been on American soil, and actually on Mexican soil, which could have appeared as an attack to the Mexicans.
The Essay on A Mexican Tejano in American Texas
... Independence with Mexico in the Mexican-American War, changing the effects, cultures, and territories-for Tejano’s. Indeed, the history of Texas can never be complete ... 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 ...
While many Americans saw the Mexico as the reason for the war, many Mexicans believe it was the U.S. that started it. The annexing of Texas was the main reason. As Sumner said in 1847, “Texas turned for favor and succor to England. The government of the United States, fearing it might pass under the influence of this power, made overtures for its annexation to our country. This was finally accomplished by joint resolutions of Congress, in defiance of the Constitution, and in gross insensibility to the sacred obligations of amity with Mexico, imposed alike by treaty and by justice, “both string against the deed. The Mexican minister regarded it as an act offensive to his country, and, demanding his passport, returned home.”
One of the main reasons why the Whigs were so against the annexation of Texas was because of slavery. Whigs were abolitionists while most democrats were not. Many of the people migrating to Texas were from the South and they brought their slaves with them to their new home. Texas was just huge new territory for slave holders to bring their slaves.
Sending General Taylor to the Rio Grande was unconstitutional as the Whigs believed. Taylor was going into disputed territory about where the Texas/Mexico border was which ultimately led to war. “…acts of war, accomplished without bloodshed. But they were nevertheless acts of unquestioned hostility towards Mexico. Blockade! and military occupation of a disputed territory! These were the arbiters of the “open question” of boundary. These were the substitutes for negotiation.” Sumner said in 1847. Yes, the U.S. has the right to declare war, but not to start one.
The Essay on Was The United States Justified In Going To War With Mexico?
Mexico and the United States were two nations who had different opinions. Mexico was catholic which were people who were anti -slavery; this is to keep Texans under their control. Protestants was the opposite, they were for slavery. It wasn’t long before the problems became something serious. Texans won their independence in 1836. Texas applied for annexation twice over the course of nine years ...
If England held Mexico as it did Canada, the war would have probably lasted longer with more obstacles. Not saying that Mexico didn’t give a fight, but England knows the Americans better and how they fight, since they have been in so many wars with them. Mexico is also a poorer country then England so they didn’t have as many resources at their disposal as the English does.
The annexation of Texas was the main cause of this war. It was not only a war between two countries, but a war in the U.S. between the Democrats and the Whigs. Newspapers between the two groups fought against each other such as the Whigs Daily National Intelligencer and the Democrat Washington Daily News. The Whigs paper said in 1848 “…from paying twenty million of dollars for it, we have not the smallest doubt that the acquisition of it will entail mischiefs upon this country which no supposed advantages to be derived from it will compensate, now or ever.” The Democrat paper responded in 1848 with “It is true that the war has cost us millions of money, and, what is far more precious, the lives of some of our noblest citizens. But what great advantages has it obtained to us? It has covered us with glory. It has extended our fame to the remotest corners of the earth. If the treaty be ratified, it will extend the area of freedom to the Southern Pacific.” This split of parties and ideas inevitably will lead to a much worse war then the Mexican War.
