Zinn Essay Ch 8
Cho, Jeffrey
10-9-14
Per. 5
Zinn Chapter 8 "We Take Nothing by Conquest Thank God" In Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States, the main emphasis in chapter eight is the reasons that the United States waged war with Mexico and how the government influenced the citizens to show support for the war. The main reason for the U.S. invasion of Mexican territory was to increase the land mass of America as well as to show dominance over the Mexican race. Although the middle class, foreigners, newspaper editors, and authors attempted to protest war in Mexico, the government instilled an expansionist ideology into the American people under the concept of Manifest Destiny. The original provocation that enabled the U.S. to launch war against Mexico was Polk ordering General Taylor to send soldiers to the area between the Rio Grande and the Nueces River. Texas declared its independence from Mexico in 1836 and was bought by the U.S. in 1845. To ensure that the Texans would ally themselves with the U.S. Polk promised them their claim to the Rio Grande, and to carry out that promise, he sent troops to challenge Mexico. Inspired by greed, Taylor agreed to carry out Polk's orders with General Hitchcock stating that "the General [wanted] an additional brevet, and would strain a point to get it" (150). The greed of the American soldiers to obtain a reward for their efforts in Mexico inspired them to invade Mexican territory and provoke a war. If they were to win the war, then they would be promised rewards. This coincided with the U.S. government's attempt to provide an incentive for volunteers to join the army. Originally, there was high enthusiasm to join the army due to patriotism and a promise of pay. Posters and advertisements were widespread across different states that offered monetary incentives for soldiers: "They promised pay of $7 to $10 a month, and spoke of a federal bounty of $24 and 160 acres of land" (160). The government used these techniques to
10-9-14
Per. 5
Zinn Chapter 8 "We Take Nothing by Conquest Thank God" In Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States, the main emphasis in chapter eight is the reasons that the United States waged war with Mexico and how the government influenced the citizens to show support for the war. The main reason for the U.S. invasion of Mexican territory was to increase the land mass of America as well as to show dominance over the Mexican race. Although the middle class, foreigners, newspaper editors, and authors attempted to protest war in Mexico, the government instilled an expansionist ideology into the American people under the concept of Manifest Destiny. The original provocation that enabled the U.S. to launch war against Mexico was Polk ordering General Taylor to send soldiers to the area between the Rio Grande and the Nueces River. Texas declared its independence from Mexico in 1836 and was bought by the U.S. in 1845. To ensure that the Texans would ally themselves with the U.S. Polk promised them their claim to the Rio Grande, and to carry out that promise, he sent troops to challenge Mexico. Inspired by greed, Taylor agreed to carry out Polk's orders with General Hitchcock stating that "the General [wanted] an additional brevet, and would strain a point to get it" (150). The greed of the American soldiers to obtain a reward for their efforts in Mexico inspired them to invade Mexican territory and provoke a war. If they were to win the war, then they would be promised rewards. This coincided with the U.S. government's attempt to provide an incentive for volunteers to join the army. Originally, there was high enthusiasm to join the army due to patriotism and a promise of pay. Posters and advertisements were widespread across different states that offered monetary incentives for soldiers: "They promised pay of $7 to $10 a month, and spoke of a federal bounty of $24 and 160 acres of land" (160). The government used these techniques to