Mexican American War Essay Mexican American War The Mexican War Essay The Mexican-American War Essay Mexican American War Essay The Mexican American War Essay

1. Mexican American War Essay
Introduction/Background
The Mexican American War began on April 25, 1846. The war lasted two years losing many men
on both sides. The Mexican war was the third major fought by the United States. In 1810, Miguel
Hidalgo y Costilla triggers the beginning of Mexico's fight for independence from Spain. Mexico
gained its independence in 1821 after a long and bloody revolution against Spain. For Mexico, the
war between them and the United States was a fight to keep their institutions and national integrity
intact, to protect themselves from present and future aggressions by the Americans, but more than
anything else, the war was a struggle for land. In the early days of the republic, most Americans
made their living by farming, so in 1803...show more content...
Later in the month, 30 more swam the river. They formed the nucleus of a unit in the Mexican
army which was known as the "San Patricio Brigade." These soldiers would fight alongside
Mexico in the war...they were soon captured by the U.S forces and branded with a "D" pm their
faces for deserter and hanged on the gallows. On April 11 the Mexican troops stationed at
Matamoros had welcomed a new commander and 2,000 more soldiers. On May 8, the Mexicans
were all along the enemy line. When the two armies were only half a mile apart, Mexico fired
with their big guns and cannons. The Americans quickly attacked the Mexican front line. Hardly
either side used their bayonets, knives or bare hands. General Taylor's army fought several
battles south of the Rio Grande. He captured the important city of Monterrey and defeated a major
Mexican force at the Battle of Buena Vista in February 1847. President Polk remarked that he
wanted, "a small war, just large enough to require a treaty of peace and not large enough to make
military reputations. Scott and his army entered Mexico City on September 14, 1847. The fall of
the Mexican capital ended the military phase of the conflict. President Polk's goal was to create a
threefold force: an "Army of the West," to conquer New Mexico and California; an "Army of the
Center," to keep Chihuahua and northern Mexico under control; and an "Army
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2. Mexican American War
1.How did American life during the period of the Age of the Common Man reflect both the influence
of the frontier and the impact of newer rationalistic concepts? (Think inventions, religion, peace,
prosperity, literature, art, education, etc) 2.Briefly define (no more than 1 paragraph each, some are
a sentence or two): –The Mexican American War: The Mexican–American war was a fight for lad
between the Untied States and Mexico where the United States defeated Mexico and gained over
five hundred thousand miles of land. The land in known as the Southwest and makes up a vast
majority of the United States. A major contributor to the war was the American belief of Manifest
Destiny and showed how the United States wanted to extend their...show more content...
So whenever the Union added a state the Confederacy wanted to add a slave state. This went back
and forth until the Civil War began. The Union earned their income with industry and making
many necessities, where the South relied heavily on tobacco, cotton, and the most problematic
slavery. The South also wanted 3/5 of every slave to count as a man and be used to represent the
state in Congressional matters. The Union would not agree with this what so ever and completely
shut this idea down. The South had a lower population, had a small railroad system, did not
produce much steel or iron, had less wealth, less valuable exports, less factories, but had the
majority of all farmland in the United States. The education difference was a major difference too.
The Northerners were more educated and had a much more to offer educationally. In the South they
solely relied on the farm and what type of product it was producing. Even though the South did not
have everything the North did, they were content and were not in the mood for any change at all.
(civilwar.org) 4.Distinguish between the Lincoln Reconstruction Plan, the Johnson Reconstruction
Plan, and the Congressional Reconstruction Plan, which do you think should have been applied?
Explain fully. The Lincoln Reconstruction Plan was to be as swift as possible and consisted of
three main points a general forgiveness would be given to everyone in the South who would take an
oath of loyalty to
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3. The Mexican War Essay
The Mexican War
The factors that started the Mexican War lay heavily on American shoulders. Whether if the factors
were created by social, political or economical needs, they have all become the center of attention
for the question of being a national interest or disgrace. However, the Americans felt that they
existed for "...spreading the blessings of peace." according to Andrew Jackson. There will always be
controversy between the two sides of this matter, the Americans who feel that it had to be done, to
the Mexicans who felt that it was an injustice done to their nation.
First of all, socially, the Americans felt that it was their duty to spread their blessings of democracy
and peace. Through manifest destiny, they...show more content...
James Polk felt that it was his duty to take it by force and took the matter under his control. Since
John Tyler's decision to hold off the war until Mexico made the initial attack, Polk took it upon
himself to provoke the Mexicans. To accomplish this, he sent troops to the Rio Grande and marched
them along the border until the Mexicans made their attack. After the report of the attack was
delivered, Abraham Lincoln proposed the "Spot Resolutions" to find the exact location of the
American bloodshed on "American soil". However, the Spot Resolutions were built upon false
statements; the Mexicans' attack was premeditated and actually took place on Mexican land. Polk
was successful in starting the desired Mexican War which ultimately led to the defeat of the weaker
adversary Mexico and the attainment of California.
Along with the desire of new land, there were other contributing factors that initiated the war with
Mexico. There were also political and economical factors that were as equally important in the start
of the war. With most of the Mexican land below the 34o30` line, the Democrats and the southern
states were pushing for the war. With the increased amount of representatives for the southern states,
there would finally be a tiebreaker in the free–slave argument. Without saying, the Whigs of the
northern states were opposed to the
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4. The Mexican-American War Essay
Regardless of the decade or the country a person lives in, there seems to be a reckless disregard
for the toll a war can take on human lives. When the Alamo was fought back in February 1836, it
was about the independence of Texas from Mexico. In retaliation of the death and destruction of
human life, Sam Houston retaliated in April and killed 630 Mexican soldiers and took General
Santa Anna prisoner (Tindall & Shi, 2010). This was the start of the independence of Texas and the
quest for annexation into the United States, which ultimately led to the Mexican–American War of
1846–1848. This paper will briefly explain the reasons for the Mexican–American War and will
describe the outcome of the war.
The Reasons Numerous reasons can be...show more content...
The belief was that America had a God–given right, or destiny, to expand the country's border from
the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean (Lee, 2011). Tension arose between the US andMexico in
1846 after an attempt to purchase the California and New Mexico Territories was rebuffed over a
border dispute. In Texas, the situation worsened when the southern border was disputed. Mexico
claimed the border at the Nueces River, while Texas claimed the border at theRio Grande. President
Polk wanted to goad the Mexicans into a conflict to obtain Texas while also securing New Mexico
and California, however; it was essential that Mexico commence it (Tindall & Shi, 2010). On May
9, 1846 the Mexicans attacked US soldiers, President Polk's scheme worked. On May 13, 1846
President Polk signed the declaration of war. The Mexican–American War had begun.
The Outcome With no actual war plan, the Mexican war was fought on four fronts – southern Texas,
central Mexico, New Mexico, and California (Tindall & Shi, 2010). The military on both sides
were ill prepared for fighting the war. The US Army consisted of roughly 7,000 soldiers, while the
Mexican forces consisted of 32,000 soldiers. By the time the war was over the number had risen to
104,000 American forces. Some were volunteers for six and 12 month enlistments. General Taylor,
who would eventually become President of the United States in 1849, became popular with the two
victories north of the Rio
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5. Mexican American War Essay
The Mexican–American War was driven by the idea of "Manifest Destiny" (Which is the belief that
America had a God–given right to expand the country's borders from sea to sea) This belief would
eventually cause a great deal of suffering for many Mexicans, Native Americans and United States
citizens. Following the earlier Texas War of Independence fromMexico, tensions between the two
largest independent nations on the North American continent grew as Texas eventually became a
U.S. state. Disputes over the border lines sparked military confrontation, helped by the fact that
President Polk eagerly sought a war in order to seize large tracts of land from Mexico.
The war between the United States and Mexico had two basic causes. First, the...show more content...
The second basic cause of the war was the Texas War of Independence and the subsequent
annexation of that area to the United States. Not all American westward migration was
unwelcome. In the 1820's and 1830's, Mexico, newly independent from Spain, needed settlers in
the underpopulated northern parts of the country. An invitation was issued for people who would
take an oath of allegiance to Mexico and convert to Catholicism, the state religion. Thousands of
Americans took up the offer and moved, often with slaves, to the Mexican province of Texas.
Soon however, many of the new "Texicans" or "Texians" were unhappy with the way the
government in Mexico City tried to run the province. In 1835, Texas revolted, and after several
bloody battles, the Mexican President, Santa Anna, was forced to sign the Treaty of Velasco in
1836 . This treaty gave Texas its independence, but many Mexicans refused to accept the legality of
this document, as Santa Anna was a prisoner of the Texans at the time. The Republic of Texas and
Mexico continued to engage in border fights and many people in the United States openly
sympathized with the U.S.–born Texans in this conflict. As a result of the savage frontier fighting,
the American public developed a very negative stereotype against the Mexican people and
government. Partly due to the continued hostilities with Mexico, Texas decided to join with the
United States,
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6. The Mexican American War Essay
INTRODUCTION
The Mexican war between two neighbors, The United states and Mexico during 1846 to 1848 was a
defining for both the nations. United States became a continental power as Mexico lost half of its
territory, the present American Southwest from Texas to California.
THE GEOGRAPHICAL BORDERLANDS
The region which Mexico lost to united states is a region with own diverse history and culture. It is
the present day states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Mexican, Native American
and Anglo American cultures were clashed and blended here. The struggles over lands, legal rights
and political power among various groups continued for many years after the war. This region is
now one of the most economic and dynamic regions in...show more content...
Revolts started to break out in Mexico as the government moved towards centralism in the
mid–1830s. The Texas revolt was a successful one as Texas was very near to US and could get
arms, manpower and moral support from US. The Mexican economy was not strong enough to
provide manufactured goods to frontiersmen at reasonable prices. The frontiersmen felt that they
were politically neglected. This compelled them to look for their self–interest rather than to be loyal
to Mexico. The Californians thought to create an independent California or the one under British,
French or American. During the US Mexican war the New Mexicans thought to break away from
Mexico and form an independent republic.
THE PROBLEMS OF THE SETTLERS THAT WERE UNIQUE TO THEIR PROVINCE AND
HOW DID THEY RESOLVE IT.
The Northern provinces were scarcely populated. Search for population was one of the principal
goals. People residing in Santa Fe were isolated from rest of Mexico. It took 40 days to travel
from Santa Fe to Chihuahua. From Mexico City a journey by Wagon could take six months. So
for them, US looked a very attractive market. By the time of the war, New Mexicans were
enormously dependent on US for trade. The trade included goods made of metal such as hinges,
hair pins, and scissors. The trade also include cloth as it was produced inexpensively by using
machines in United States than by hands in Mexico. Silver was a major commodity of the Mexicans.
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