The Mexican American War Essay - 1570 Words

INTRODUCTION The Mexican war between two neighbors, The United states and Mexico during 1846 to 1848 was a defining for both the nations. United States became a continental power as Mexico lost half of its territory, the present American Southwest from Texas to California. THE GEOGRAPHICAL BORDERLANDS The region which Mexico lost to united states is a region with own diverse history and culture. It is the present day states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Mexican, Native American and Anglo American cultures were clashed and blended here. The struggles over lands, legal rights and political power among various groups continued for many years after the war. This region is now one of the most economic and dynamic regions in†¦show more content†¦Revolts started to break out in Mexico as the government moved towards centralism in the mid-1830s. The Texas revolt was a successful one as Texas was very near to US and could get arms, manpower and moral support from US. The Mexican economy was not strong enough to provide manufactured goods to frontiersmen at reasonable prices. The frontiersmen felt that they were politically neglected. This compelled them to look for their self-interest rather than to be loyal to Mexico. The Californians thought to create an independ ent California or the one under British, French or American. During the US Mexican war the New Mexicans thought to break away from Mexico and form an independent republic. THE PROBLEMS OF THE SETTLERS THAT WERE UNIQUE TO THEIR PROVINCE AND HOW DID THEY RESOLVE IT. The Northern provinces were scarcely populated. Search for population was one of the principal goals. People residing in Santa Fe were isolated from rest of Mexico. It took 40 days to travel from Santa Fe to Chihuahua. From Mexico City a journey by Wagon could take six months. So for them, US looked a very attractive market. By the time of the war, New Mexicans were enormously dependent on US for trade. The trade included goods made of metal such as hinges, hair pins, and scissors. The trade also include cloth as it was produced inexpensively by using machines in United States than by hands in Mexico. Silver was a major commodity of the Mexicans.Show MoreRelatedThe Mexican American War Essay1223 Words   |  5 PagesUnited 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 howeverRead MoreThe Mexican-American War Essay870 Words   |  4 Pagesdisregard for the toll a war can take on human lives. When the Alamo was fought back in February 1836, it was about the independence of Texas from Mexico. In retaliation of the death and destruction of human life, Sam Houston retaliated in April and killed 630 Mexican soldiers and took General Santa Anna prisoner (Tindall Shi, 2010). This was the start of the independence of Texas and the quest for annexation into the United States, which ultimately led to the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848. ThisRead MoreEssay on The Mexican-American War1466 Words   |  6 PagesThe Mexican-American war determined the destiny of the United States of America, it determined whether or not it would bec ome a world power and it established the size of the United States of America. Perhaps the war was inevitable due to the idea of Manifest Destiny - Americans thought they had the divine right to extend their territory. The Mexican-American War started mainly because of the annexation of the Republic of Texas (established in 1836 after breaking away from Mexico). The United StatesRead MoreEssay The Mexican-American War1216 Words   |  5 PagesThe Mexican-American War. The Mexican-American war was a process of years of battles between the Mexicans and Americans but I think after this informational paper, you’ll seem to know a little bit more knowledge about it. How it all started, well in the beginning, the Americans and Mexicans both wanted to control Texas, but at the time it was a part of the Mexican territory, well soon enough Americans wanted control over it so badly that they started to travel into Texas’s land. Part of the reasonRead MoreCause Of The Mexican American War1864 Words   |  8 PagesThe 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 infu riated Mexico. Additionally, border disagreements came up withRead MoreThe American Army in the Mexican War1085 Words   |  5 Pagesrepel invasions. This two level arrangement formed the basis of military establishment during the war. The U.S. army was not prepared for the war. The congress authorized 8613 men and officers for the war but, the actual number was fewer than 5500. Many regimental commanders entered before the War of 1812 but, were too elderly and infirm for an active duty. Looking at the poor state of army during the war, the Congress increased the number of private individual companies to hundred. This turned outRead MoreMexican American War Essay4448 Words   |  18 PagesIntroduction/Background The Mexican American War began on April 25, 1846. The war lasted two years losing many men on both sides. The Mexican war was the third major fought by the United States. In 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla triggers the beginning of Mexico’s fight for independence from Spain. Mexico gained its independence in 1821 after a long and bloody revolution against Spain. For Mexico, the war between them and the United States was a fight to keep their institutions and national integrityRead MorePolitical Outcomes of the Mexican-American War2030 Words   |  9 PagesPolitical Outcomes of the Mexican – American War Post the Mexican – American War in 1846, there would be a plethora of political change that would be inevitable for the Mexicans, and the Americans. These changes would bring about a divide between the two countries that would keep them in a rivalry spanning over numerous decades. However, before this rivalry could occur, something would be needed to induce it. The Mexicans and the Americans would fight against each other for over a year until aRead MoreCompare and contrast the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War.1456 Words   |  6 PagesThe War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War are two wars that physically appear two opposites. The War of 1812 involves plenty of naval battles and a few major land battles, while the Mexican-American War involves numerous land battles and few, if any, naval battles. However there are numerous similarities. The War of 1812, The US saw Great Britain as a major problem because of their definition of contraband and the impressment of American sailors into the British Navy. And around this time theRead MoreEssay about The Mexican War as an Exercise in American Imperialism1152 Words   |  5 PagesThe Mexican War as an Exercise in American Imperialism The US government believed firmly in the doctrine of Manifest destiny, the government argued that they had the right and duty to expand through North American because it was necessary and inevitable. During the 19th century Mexico dominated a large amount of North America which was inhabited by American settlers and the American government aimed to expand the USA from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and were