Mexican American War Essay

The Mexican American war is often overlooked when in reality, it was one of the most important wars in US history which changed history. This war was first started in 1846 and ended in 1848. Though the war was a little short, a lot changed for the US in just two years. The war started about a mile North of the Rio Grande because a squadron of American troops “crossed the border” and 16 peaceful Americans were shot and killed. The United States was definitely justified in going to war with Mexico because Mexico wasn't really using the land that America took, America was peaceful and Mexico just randomly killed 16 soldiers, and it was America’s manifest destiny to expand to the Pacific Ocean, meaning it was God’s will. Mexico gained its independence
from Spain in 1821. Since that time they had grown in population. First America took Texas alone in the Texan revolution in 1836. In the past America’s wars have had a negative effect on the US. People have also had many different opinions on what should and what should not have happened for those wars. It comes as no surprise that this also goes amidst the Mexican American war. Many have rehashed that America was justified and had valid argumentations to go to war, same goes for the perspective that America was unjustified (Roden 317). according to the background essay, “Mexico was huge. It stretched from Guatemala to Oregon and was equal in size to the United states.”(Roden 317). And by the time the war started, “The Anglo Saxon foot is already on [California’s] borders”(O’Sullivan 323).
One of the many reasons why America was justified in going to war was, Mexico was scarcely using the land that the US took as a war prize.
“Mexican leaders were aware of the near emptiness of their Northern lands.”(Roden 317). This country was actually inviting US farmers to come to North Mexico to fill and use it. Mexico was absolutely extravagant for the amount of people they had. America was conclusively justified is going to war with Mexico because this shows that it was okay to expand to California. America definitely did not have enough land for the amount of people they had and Mexico had way too much land for the amount of people they
had. A second reason why America was justified in going to war was the Mexicans killed 16 peaceful American troops and started a war. When American soldiers crossed the Nueces river into disputed territory, Mexican troops slaughtered them on sight.(Doc B 325) The thing is, America was completely peaceful on the land and Mexico just attacked them. America thought that they were on their own territory and Mexico thought it was their own. This evidence shows that America was justified in going to war with mexico because America was on their territory just as much as Mexico. They maliciously attacked and assassinated without America firing a single shot. This act of violence should and did lead to warfare. The third and final reason why America was validated in going to war with Mexico is, it was America’s manifest destiny to expand to the Pacific Ocean. That manifest destiny is the belief that God actually wants America to expand and grow. So the Americans believed that they had to expand because God wanted them too. It was emphatically stated by President James Polk, “It was plainly our duty to extend our protection over her citizens and soil.”(Polk 325) “limiting our greatness and checking the fulfillment of our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence [God] for the free development of our yearly expanding millions.”(O’Sullivan 50) Now there are reasons why America may not have been justified.
Some may say that America already took Texas so why take more? Also, Americans just marched upon their land and took what wasn't theirs. In some way, that could be interpreted as America being tormentors. But still, there are better ways why America should have gone to war and earned land for their people. “In the eyes of the [Mexican] government, the mobilization of the US army was an outright attack on Mexico…. As a consequence, the Mexican government reaffirmed the instruction to protect the border” (Jesus Velasco-Marquez 327). But even though some have seen America’s actions as selfish and mean, America did have enough reasons in expanding, growing and prospering. America was never a bully and their actions were significant in the becoming of the
US. The United States was definitely justified in going to war with Mexico because Mexico wasn't using the land America took, America was peaceful and Mexico just randomly man-slaughtered 16 soldiers, and it was America’s manifest destiny to expand to the Pacific Ocean, meaning it was God’s will. Even though lives were lost in a fight to gain land and expand, it is every country's goal to gain land and America was justified in achieving that goal. It is important to know whether or not America was justified in going to war with Mexico to learn of our past and gain our own opinions.