An Analysis of the Justification In Pursuing the Mexican-American War

The United States had been in many wars before but the Mexican-American War was the most fantastic war they have been in. In 1836, Texas declared independence from Mexico. However, Mexico didn’t want Texas to have their independence and join the United States Other conflicts also lead to the war. The Mexican War took place between US and Mexico through 1846 and 1848. Mexico sent troops first to Texas, starting the war. In addition, the future of the US depended on westward expansion and we gained land from this war.

President James Polk said, “Well may the boldest fear and the wisest tremble when incurring responsibilities on which may depend our country’s peace and prosperity, and in some degree the hopes and happiness of the whole human family.” He is basically saying that we should do anything to insure our country’s prosperity. Also, Mexico couldn’t govern Texas properly. The US was justified in going to war with Mexico because Mexico started sending troops first, the future of the US depended on westward expansion, and Mexico was unable to govern Texas.

The U.S. was justified because Mexico sent troops to the US first. On April 25, 1846, the Mexican army attacked a group of U.S. soldiers in the area commanded by Zachary Taylor. They then surrounded the American fort but Taylor’s army was able to defeat the Mexicans at the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. Polk told the U.S. Congress that the “Cup of forbearance has been exhausted, even before Mexico passed the boundary of the United States, invaded our territory, and shed American blood upon American soil.

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” Two days later, on May 13, Congress declared war, despite opposition from some northern lawmakers. Document B talks about the Mexican invasion of the US on the Rio Grande River. “The invasion was threatened solely because Texas had determined… to annex herself to our Union; and, under these circumstances, it was plainly our duty to extend our protection over her citizens and soil.”(Doc.B) America protected its people from the Mexicans because their people were suffering and the Mexicans were killing them. Also, their house were getting invaded by the Mexicans. The war was justified because the invasion of Mexico made it necessary for our country to defend their citizens and their freedom.

Another reason why the Mexican War was justified because of westward expansion. Thousands of people crossed the Rockies to the Oregon Territory, which belonged to Great Britain, and thousands more moved into the Mexican territories. In 1837, American settlers in Texas joined and won independence from Mexico. They petitioned to join the United States as a slave state. Thanks to the guide of Polk and his allies, Texas joined the union as a slave state in February 1846.” Other nations have undertaken ……. hostile interference against us … hampering our power, limiting our greatness, and checking the fulfilment of our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence (God) for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions” (Doc A). It saying that all these nations were taking interference with America’s land and its freedom. Since they were taking over land, America couldn’t have their freedom and the freedom for their people. The Manifest Destiny was limited by Mexico owning land in the west coast. If we didn’t go to war with Mexico we wouldn’t have many states in the west coast and that would be Mexico’s territory. The US’ choice was justified by Mexico preventing us from our Manifest Destiny.

The last reason why the US was justified because Mexico was bad at governing Texas. This is because Mexico killed American citizens on the disputed territory even though Texas gained independence already. The American citizens didn’t want to become Mexican citizens. American people started moving to Texas and it became a mostly American dominated area. “According to an early Texas census, there were 103,000 whites and 38,000 slaves in the state in 1847″ (Doc. D). The Mexicans should’ve just given the territory over to the U.S. because of the amount of Americans living there. The Americans didn’t want to follow the Mexican government’s rules because they were from the U.S. Due to Mexico’s inability to govern Texas the Mexican-American war was justified.

The U.S. was justified in going to war with Mexico. Mexico initiated the war, forcing the US to fight back in order to defend their citizens. Mexico was preventing the U.S. from westward expansion and the effects of Mexico losing the war allowed the U.S. to gain land. Mexico wasn’t able to govern Texas effectively. In May 2014, the Mexican Army invaded the US in Arizona like how we invaded Mexico during the Mexican War.