Manifest Destiny and the War with Mexico Essay

Submitted By Fennest2737

Words: 353

Pages: 2

Open Document

The United States in 1846 was not justified in going to war with Mexico. The United States did not have proper justification to respond with violence against the Mexican government. The war with Mexico was also a product of the United States’ belief of Manifest Destiny. Polk’s over ambition to seize new territory from the Mexicans and disappointment over their refusal to sell him California also possibly played a factor in his willingness to wage war against Mexico. The United States under the leadership of President Polk clearly provoked Mexico into attacking US troops. To no extent was the Mexican War a justifiable war. All these reasons show that the US had no business starting a war with Mexico for territory that was rightfully theirs. The war with Mexico came at a time when much of the country had strong feelings of Manifest Destiny. Manifest Destiny is the belief that fate had preordained the US to expand from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans and from Canada to the Rio Grande. “the nation of many nations is destined to manifest to mankind the excellence of divine principles….it shall be a hemisphere – its roof the firmament of the star-studded heavens…” (Document 1). This ideal had strong influence and was one reason that there was so much popular support for the US expansion west. This ideal, while nationalistic, did not give Polk the right to go into Mexico and seize land which was rightfully theirs. The US vision of manifest destiny helped to win the

Mexican American War Dbq

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 belief called Manifest Destiny. Manifest…

Words 463 - Pages 2

Essay on Manifest Destiney

concept of Manifest Destiny in relation to the 1840s is a poignant part of this concepts defining period. First the question, “What is the exact definition of Manifest Destiny?’ must be answered. It is the belief that expansion across the continent of North America is the God given right of the United States. Not only did this driving force emphasize on expansion it represented much more to its proponents, it was freedom and the force that would help economic growth as well. Manifest Destiny was an American…

Words 717 - Pages 3

Why The United States Justified In Conquering Mexico

The United States was justified in going to war with Mexico. An important reason why they wanted to go to war with Mexico was to achieve a protestant belief called Manifest Destiny. Manifest Destiny was the belief that the U.S. was meant to encompass the entirety of North America, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Supporters of Manifest Destiny desired expansion so badly, they would risk going to war with other countries to achieve it. They believed that by expanding the U.S., it would confirm…

Words 290 - Pages 2

Manifest Destiny's Expansion In The United States

Manifest Destiny is a unique, yet mysterious event, or a series of events, in American history. Many people believe settlers were destined for expansion throughout the continent. Others believe it justifies the war against Mexico. Many more believe that it was a call from God for the United States to expand throughout the region. “Historians have long differed over the meaning, the significance, and even the existence of the American phenomenon of expansion called Manifest Destiny” (DeConde 1963…

Words 155 - Pages 1

What Is Manifest Destiny An Example Of Aggressive Imperialism

1/16/17 APUSH Manifest Destiny Under the doctrine of Manifest Destiny, Americans felt it was their given right to expand across North America. The actions taken place in the 1840’s under the Manifest Destiny movement only served to benefit America at the expense of others. Manifest Destiny indeed was an example of aggressive imperialism. The Mexican-American War was a result of America’s ideology of expanding throughout North America.…

Words 461 - Pages 2

Compare And Contrast The War Of 1812 And The Mexican American War

The War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War were both wars that occurred on land that was or would become American homeland. These wars had many similarities including how the war was started, why people were opposed or supportive of the war, and of the ideas of those who were critics of the war. The War of 1812 was declared because of rising tension between the British and United States as well as American willingness to expand and take more territory. Since the British were at war with France…

Words 1881 - Pages 8

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

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. The ending…

Words 611 - Pages 3

Argument Against Manifest Destiny

As a result of America’s need for more land, the idea of “Manifest Destiny” was conjured. Early America was met with lots of immigration. Manifest Destiny was the idea that it was a God-given right for white men to own all of North America, and some saw it as the fate of American to own all of North America. America felt that it should own the continent Pacific to Atlantic coasts. They would extend American liberty to new territories. Americans would expand North West, and it was mainly fur trappers…

Words 1129 - Pages 5

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