Mexican War Dbq Essay

DBQ: Was The United States Justified In Going To War With Mexico? When Congress voted to annex Texas, the U.S. and Mexico had different perceptions on what the border of Texas was; the Americans thought it was at the Rio Grande, and Mexicans believed it was at the Nueces River. After Mexicans killed 16 Americans north of the Rio del Norte, the states decided it was an act of war. Because this was the perfect excuse for him to ask for war, on May 11, 1846, President James Polk asked Congress to go to war with Mexico, and Congress made “The Mexican War” official.

“In the eyes of the Mexican government, the mobilization of the US army was an outright attack on Mexico”(Doc C paragraph 3). America was getting their military ready for battle. Maybe if President Polk hadn’t been so greedy with Texas, he wouldn’t have sent troops down there in the first place to protect it. This quote shows the Mexican War was unjustified because US troops entered Mexican territory first starting the war. “In July 1845, he sent American troops under General Zachary Taylor into the disputed area of southern Texas”(Background Essay Paragraph Seven). This once again proved the same reason that America sent troops into Mexico first driving Mexico to protect themselves. Mexico had good reasons for attacking our troops first. American troops were on Mexican territory and they were probably just about to shoot as well. This reason shows that America was not justified to go to war with Mexico because American troops trespassed on Mexican

Based on this passage, state one reason President Polk asked Congress to declare war on Mexico.   [1]

One reason the Mexican War was unjustified was that America had no respect for Mexican Government. U.S. didn’t follow the laws (Doc D). They brought in slaves when Mexico made it illegal for slavery.America ignored Mexico's rules(Paragraph 4 Background Essay). It quotes,” the American government acted like a bandit who came upon a traveler”. Which means that America stole things from Mexico(Doc C). This evidence shows that the U.S. was unjustified in going to war because they didn’t have any respect for Mexico. By not listening to people whom they were owned by. So in that case America was unjustified.

During this period, it was unclear what country owned Texas. America tried to peacefully negotiate with Mexico but they were surprisingly attacked by Mexico. This shows that America had no choice but to declare war against Mexico. In Document B, President Polk writes that, “Mexican troops, and, after a short affair, in which some sixteen Americans were killed and wounded.” In this document, President James Polk sends a request to Congress to start war. He explains the attack that occurred when American troops entered Texas. Several soldiers were killed north of the

The war between the United States and Mexico was not justified. During the war many people had unreasonable deaths. With the war it made slavery expand. Many soldiers did not want to fight but was forced to, and felt ashamed.

In the first place, the Mexican War was not justified was because the U.S not having the right to take Mexico's land that was supposed to be theirs. In ¨Annexation¨ , John L. O'Sullivan stated that ¨Mexico can never exert any real government authority over such a country..¨ Mexico does not have any experience with controlling such a big area. He also stated that ¨.. Checking the fulfillment of our Manifest Destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions.¨ this means that the U.S.

Abraham Lincoln, who had been elected to congress from Illinois as a Whig several months after war began, told the house “This war is nondescript, we charge the president with usurping the war making power with seizing a country, which had been for centuries, and was then in the possession of the Mexicans. Congress voted to approve a declaration of war against Mexico sought by President James Polk in May 13, 1846. James Polk ordered troops diode by information. President to occupy the controversial Lone-Star State territory. On May 9, 1846, he began drafting a declaration of war, disputation that the Mexican government’s refusal to settle the Lone-Star State question left him no selection. However that night, he learned that on April twenty

Authors Larry Schweikart and Michael Allen provide a description of the events that led to the war and the war itself. They provide us with information such as Polk’s efforts to negotiate with Mexico and to annex Texas along with other territories. The document emphasizes the roles of military leaders such as General Zachary Taylor and the success he had during the Mexican American War. The evidence provided supports the idea of manifest destiny and westward

The Mexican-American War occurred from 1846 to 1848, and was extremely beneficial to the United States. It marked the first conflict that America was involved in on foreign soil, and had numerous causes and effects. However, the Americans had opposing views on the Mexican War. For example, some Whigs and northerners were very critical, but the majority of Americans favored it. Abraham Lincoln, being an Illinois Congressman at the time, argued against the president to find out the exact spot on the U.S. where American blood was being shed.

What Polk wanted was to push Mexico into negotiating with the United States, and he was willing to create a threat of war to do this. So Polk justified the Mexican War by saying Mexico attacked American troops and invaded the United States and shed American blood upon American soil. The United States responded to the attack on American soil, which was justified. The war didn't strengthen peace in any of the territories. Although the United States claimed that the war was in self-defense, its motive was manifest destiny; Americans believed that it was their "destiny" to expand across the entire North American continent. Some Americans criticized the war. They charged Polk with wanting to acquire more slave territory and that America was the true aggressor. In which, Polk acted as if the war was his and directed it personally. He planned a short war in which

Mexican President Jose Herrera refused to negotiate (Stevenson 2009). After failed negotiations with Mexico, Polk ordered General Zachary Taylor to position his troops in the disputed territory, north of the Rio Grande River. Mexico, seeing this as an act of aggression struck first and killed several of Tyler’s men. After receiving word of the skirmish, President Polk petitioned congress, claiming Mexico “has invaded our territory, and shed American blood upon the American soil” (Tindall & Shi 2010, p. 401). In response, congress unanimously passed the resolution and on May 13, 1846, the United States declared war (Tindall & Shi 2010).

President James K. Polk who was in power from 1845 to 1849 had been accused of provoking the War with Mexico. He believed that the war would give him the upper hand in gaining land

The Mexican War of 1846 was not a justifiable war based on the Just War Theory of jus ad bellum principles. The Just War Theory addresses the political leaders that are in charge of initiating war with another entity. The rules of applying the jus ad bellum to a war are based on six areas that address whether a war can be considered a just or unjust war. The most important rule is examining Just Cause as it sets the way for the rules that follow. Right Intention to go to war based on their Just Cause, Proper Authority and Public Declaration to determine if they could declare war and Last Resort being the final decision made if all other outlets were exhausted. As well as determining the Probability of Success in the

The United States of America has been through many wars, wars concerning many things such as land oil, pride and respect. However, when the United States went to war with Mexico, it was planned over greed. The Mexican- American war was a war provoked by the United States, in efforts to expand the coasts of the country. Mexico was a small under privileged country who had previously to the war had already lost part of their country (Texas). Needless to say this war was cut throat and violent, it was however one of the smartest business decisions America has ever made.