Dbq Mexican War

Words: 1091
Pages: 5
Open Document
To be justified in an action conveys that you need a good reason or a good explanation for what you committed. At this point, conflicts start between the Mexicans and Americans, giving President James Polk an important role in this scenario. The setting of the early 1820’s, specifically 1821, sets Mexico free from Spain, sizing almost equal to the United States. Mexico’s northern land was in need of settlers, so they began welcoming American settlers to the land. Eventually, in 1836, Texas declared independence from Mexico and twice applied over a course of nine years to be annexed by the United States. When James Polk became president in 1844, he annexed Texas, being a large believer in Manifest Destiny, or the god-given right to expand the …show more content…
Although seen as controversial, the United States was not justified in going to war with Mexico due to large expansion of slavery, the US violation of Mexican Laws, and the robbery and invasion of the Mexican Territory. The United States was not justified in going to war with Mexico due to the large expansion of slavery by the Americans. Massachusetts legislator Charles Sumer explains in the “Objections to the Mexican-American War,” that, “Mexico, on achieving her independence from the Spanish Crown.decreed the abolition of human slavery.” (Sumner). Mexico had clearly stated that slavery was illegal in their nation after separating from Spain. Knowing this, the Americans chose to ignore the laws of Mexico and bring their slaves into Texas regardless of the illegality. Likewise, Charles Sumner clearly states the ignorance of slavery laws, saying that, “...while, in seeking extension of slavery, [our own citizens denied] the great truths of American freedom...” (Sumner). The Americans were defying the Mexican rules and choosing to expand slavery in the Texas …show more content…
After declaring independence from Spain, Mexico created their own defined laws, “Mexico was Catholic, antislavery.American settlers were mostly Protestant, pro-slavery, and largely ignored Mexican authority,” (BGE). It was already evident that the Americans and Mexicans had different beliefs, but the Americans had to follow the beliefs of the Mexicans if they wanted to settle on their land. Instead, the Americans downright ignored the Mexican rules, and continued to do what they wanted, on Mexican land. Being forewarned that slavery was illegal in the territory they were entering, “Slaveholders crossed the Sabine with their slaves, in defiance of the Mexican ordinance of freedom,” (Sumner). The slave owners brought their slaves into Texas, completely against the Mexican laws of no slavery. The Americans were utterly ignoring a major law that the Mexicans have in place for their nation, signaling that they have no issue defying other rules and laws as well. Not only did the Americans expand their slavery, illegally, they broke many other laws as
Show More

Related Documents: Dbq Mexican War

Mexican War Dbq

The US/Mexican war was violent event for citizens that lasted 2 years in what is now the state of Texas which drastically changed the course of Mexican and American history for years. At first, Mexico, encouraged Americans to settle in Texas because they wanted to increase their population. For Mexico, this turned out to not be a good idea. The Americans that settled in Texas did not respond to Mexican authority and had many Different Beliefs than them. Texas then revolted, and won it’s independence…

Words 991 - Pages 4

Mexican American War Dbq

the United States Justified in Going to War With Mexico? It was destiny, not inhumanity or invasion. The war with Mexico was in 1846 until 1848. The war was ignited by the 16 soldiers slaughtered on what was disputed land and Texas’s statehood. So, was the war with Mexico justified or not? The United States was justified in going to war with Mexico because manifest destiny, the people supported the war, and the legislature supported it. One reason the war with Mexico was justified was because a…

Words 463 - Pages 2

DBQ Essay: The Mexican War

The Mexican War You are heading North of the Rio Grande walking near the Texan and Mexican border with your comrade soldiers. All of the sudden you hear the screaming of Mexicans. “It’s an ambush”, your leader Zachary Taylor yells. What will happen next? Was the United states Justified in going to war with Mexico? The United States was not justified in going to war with Mexico because when the 16 soldiers were attacked it was because they were defending their land, when the U.S moved into Texas…

Words 929 - Pages 4

Dbq-Mexican War Analysis

Foreign intervention, especially the U.S.-Mexican War of 1846-1848 would create difficulty in navigating the “trials of nationhood” between the 1820s and the 1850s. a few factors that created difficulties are the weakness and instability from newly achieved independence from a governing foreign land Spain, Maximilian’s Mexico, and the invasion of American General Zachary Taylor into Mexico. The First weakening blow would come with the newly independent Mexico free from Spain in September 1829 would…

Words 485 - Pages 2

The Mexican-American War DBQ

To some, the war between Mexico and America (also known as the Mexican-American war in America, and The American invasion in Mexico,) was a war based on lies sustained by the nefarious intent of President Polk, but to others a declaration of liberty and a demonstration of American power. The Mexican-American war was a war between America and Mexico due to Texas yearning to be annexed into America, America and Mexico then went on to fight over Texas. In the end America won the war and took Texas along…

Words 498 - Pages 2

Mexican-American War Dbq

In the 1800’s America was different than what it is now. Like, how wars were always happening even if they shouldn’t have been started in the beginning. Take, for instance, the Mexican- American War. The US was not justified in going into war with Mexico because they intruded on land they didn’t own, they didn’t abide by Mexican laws, and the Us went straight to the idea of war instead of working things out. On December 19, 1836, the Congress of Texas declared the Rio Grande a boundary between…

Words 421 - Pages 2

Mexican-American War Dbq

The Mexican-American War of 1846 played a significant role in the history of the United States and Mexico. There were some reasons for this war: annexation of Texas and “Manifest Destiny” theory. First, by 1936, there was a strong movement for Texas independence. After several bloody battles between the Mexican army and Texas Freedom Fighters, the Texans won their independence. However, hostilities rose again from a dispute over the southern boundary between Texas and Mexico. During the 1843 presidential…

Words 308 - Pages 2

Mexican American War Dbq Analysis

Date: 4/29/15 English-3rd Social Studies-2nd The Mexican and American War Slaves coming unwillingly with their rebel owners trying to be part of the U.S. While trying to become a free state. The Mexican War was from 1846-1848 at the Alamo. This lead up to Texas having it’s freedom. Both sides have different ways of seeing the War. America sees it as, “U.S. historians refer to this event as the Mexican War.” (Document C Paragraph 1). The Mexicans see it as “The American government acted like a bandit…

Words 610 - Pages 3

Mexican American War Dbq Analysis

The background essay says, “ Thousands of Mexicans and Americans died, and half of the country of Mexico was taken by the United States as a war prize”. During the Mexican- American war, many people from both countries died trying to claim the land that they believed was theirs. The U.S. took Mexico’s land as a prize of their own, they believed they needed that land because they wanted to fulfill their Manifest Destiny.The war started when the annexation of Texas to the United States started to happen…

Words 611 - Pages 3

Mexican American War Dbq Analysis

With the end result concluding who gets some of the most valuable lands in the world, the Mexican American war was sure to bring the best of the two countries against each other. During the western expansion of the United States, the need for land increased as the population rose. The sight of Texas and California interested the United States, but at the time was owned by Mexico. Although Texas was owned by Mexican, American families were allowed to live in Texas. Soon after, the people of Texas rebelled…

Words 797 - Pages 4