Chapter 13 Learning Objectives (Ap American History, Apush)

The Mexican-American war began in the spring of 1846 and quickly engulfed the American people and generated many different opinions and interests. The war took over almost all popular culture, arts, literature, and the press. The outpouring of ideas about this war spurred patriotism all across the country, which

Document A is a magazine called “Annexation” written by John L. O’ Sulilvan in July, 1845. It was about how the country should feel elated and jubilant of the annexation of Texas because it was expanding the territory. According to Document A, it states, “(O)ther nations… hampering our power, limiting our greatness and checking the fulfillment of our manifest destiny to overspread the continent.” O’ Sulilvan states that America’s manifest destiny is supported by God who’s given us the right to spread our greatness, liberty, and way of life, into the rest of the Americas. He’s also sporting the fact that Mexico would attack us for annexing a piece of land that is rightfully ours is absolutely outrageous.

He believes that if they want to increase their power and wealth they should favor adding Texas. Andrew Jackson believed that not gaining would go against everything they stood for therefore they had to annex Texas into the country Annex of Texas was not seen as good thing to other Americans such John Calhoun a racist southern slave owner who also was congressman and was against gettting mexico into America as seen in his speech to Congress 1848.In doucement H in his speech to Congress John Calhoun through his racist mind believed that mexicans capable of a democracy and were not on the same level as them intellectually so therefore they did not need to force it upon them. This testifies that territorial expansion was not seen as good thing at all to people like Calhoun because they did not want to associate with foreigner because they are not on the same level based off social darwinism Calhoun believed that the manifest destiny was a bad thing because he supported slavery and was a white southern racist who thought that anyone who was not an Anglo was incapable and too ignorant to the of ruling a free

However, not every idea of expansionism was happy. Others people wanted to expand America because of fear. In Document F it states, “None can fail to see the danger to our safety and future peace if Texas remains an independent state, or becomes an ally or dependency of some foreign nation more powerful than herself.” After Texas won its independence from Mexico in 1835, Texas could not cede the American Union because it needed to enter America with a free state (a state with no slavery) because of the Missouri Compromise (the Missouri Compromise was passed in 1820 in which stated that there would be no slavery in the Louisiana Territory above the 36th parallel). Since there were no other states to enter with Texas, Texas had to remain as an independent state for about ten years (1835- 1845). During that time, people urged for a state to enter as a free state with Texas because, since Texas was not a part of America, it could do whatever it wanted. Things like joining a different nation or starting a war with America were options that were available for Texas. That is why many

Mexico and the American settlers shared many different religious beliefs. These different beliefs caused Americans to ignore Mexico’s authority, which progressed into riots and led to Texas’s independence from Mexico. Texas had applied for annexation to the US twice but was rejected because the US did not want to anger Mexico, but after President Polk took office he got Congress to vote to annex Texas. According to Jesus Velasco-Marquez, he states, “From Mexico’s point of view, the annexation of Texas to the United States was inadmissible for both legal and security reasons. Thus, when the Mexican government learned of the treaty signed between Texas and the United States in April 1844, it.would consider such an act ‘a declaration of war’”(Document C).

Turner believed that the expansion of land had a significant influence on politics. Turner argued that the changes in the social life and the creation of government was because of the original frontier lines. Turner emphasize the idea that the Americas new-found freedom greatly influenced their way of government. This was demonstrated through the formation of a democracy as a new way to ensure that every individual had the chance to voice their opinions. “Behind institutions, behind constitutional forms and modification, lie the vital forces that call these organs into life and shape them to meet changing conditions” (Turner). As alluded to in the proceeding quote the changes America experienced that led them to the formation of a representative government was the new found love of free rein over the new land that they had acquired. Their belief in the God-Given right to expand their lands as far westward as possible taking down instantly anything that stood in the

1846 to 1848 Mexico and America were at war with one another. They fought over territory and power. The Mexican American war lasted 2 years and was during President Polk’s terms. The war was in 1846, ‘47, ‘48. President Polk was our 11th President and was in office for 4 years. Before the United States started taking land, Mexico stretched from Guatemala to Oregon and was in equal size to America. Most of the problems started when Mexico realized that their land was very empty and needed inhabitants. This lead to the people that came to inhabit the land making trouble for the Mexican Leaders. Texas applied to be annexed by the US twice before the US agreed. This angered Mexico greatly. They were not okay with their territory trying to break

Although it might not seem like the Mexican-American was a significant event in history, it was actually extremely important and has helped shape the United States into what it is today. This war between the two countries was started because Mexicans believed the border was the Nueces River, while Texans and Americans believed it was the Rio Grande, which caused confusion and anger in both countries. To make things worse, Texas decided to annex itself to the United States at a time when Mexico believed Texas still belonged to them. On April 25, 1846, the United States declared war on Mexico, and the Mexican-American War lasted all the way until February 2, 1848. However, many question whether or not the United States was justified in going

[Tensions between Mexico and America were present long before the start of the Mexican War in 1846. In 1845, Texas was granted statehood in the U.S. after declaring independence from Mexico. Mexico viewed the situation as an act of war because they still thought of as Texas as a part of their territory. American and Mexican relations grew even more strained when a dispute over the border was raised; the U.S. believed the border should be along the Rio Grande River and Mexico believed it should be along the Nueces River. Then, a skirmish between American and Mexican soldiers along the Rio Grande left sixteen American soldiers shot, and America later declared war in 1846.]

1. Compare and contrast the French colonies, the British colonies, and the Spanish colonies with regards to

The Mexican-American War was a conflict between the United States and Mexico. It took place  on 25 April, 1846 and ended on 2 February, 1848. President Polk played a huge part in the United States government's involvement with the Mexican-American War. Not all of the American citizens supported the war. There were many individuals who were against it they just was not for it. Henry David Thoreau, an American writer and philosopher, strongly opposed the war by declaring the United States actions as unethical.

The Mexican War, Spanish Guerra de 1847, or Guerra do Estados Unidos a Mexico, are different names for the Mexican-American War. Many incidents happened even before the war officially began. Eisenhower simply and bluntly stated: “The fact is that Mexico stood in the way of the American dream of Manifest Destiny.” Manifest Destiny was just one of the causes that pushed us to war with Mexico. The first battle was at Palo Alto, a fort that was in the disputed zone. There were many battles in 2 years. The war finally grasped an end when Mexico signed a treaty in Mexico City. With the treaty, U.S and Mexico were able to reach terms. Each proceedings that happened, brought on the war that lasted from 1846-1848 and then ended with the U.S as victors.

Part 3: Answer the following questions based on your reading of the “The Significance of the Frontier in American History.” (8 points)

Relying in the ideal that God had been favored the United States to fulfill their destiny, the President James Polk started an expansionist campaign to annex not only Texas, but also Oregon, and California to the American territory. John L. O’Sullivan could not be imagined that his expression “Manifest Destiny” would became an ideal of the Americans territories expansion. In 1845, Sullivan stated in a New York City paper about Texas expansion, “fulfillment of our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by the free development of our yearly multiplying millions.” (Fraser 299). Inspired by Sullivan’s ideal many settlers and politicians supported Polk administration and the military

The Mexican-American war, also known as the Mexican war happened between 1846 and 1848 with the participants being United States of America and Mexico. Texas, previously a Mexican state, was the primary cause of the war. A series of disagreements had occurred between Texans and the Mexican government leading to Texas declaration of its independence in 1836. Later, Texas decided to join the United States as the 28th state and this infuriated Mexico. Additionally, border disagreements came up with Mexico claiming the border was at Nueces River while Texas claimed it was at Rio Grande River. James K. Polk, the president, sent his army to protect the border which ended up in shooting between Mexican and American troops. It is after this that