Essay about The Mexican War as an Exercise in American...

The 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 ready to achieve this by any means. The American government saw the lands of Texas and California as grand prizes with the opportunity of lush agricultural prospect and the possibility of a gateway to the Pacific Ocean. The lands†¦show more content†¦Polk was granted a $10 million budget and to raise an army of 50000 troops, he had succeed in his plan and now wanted to secure California as soon as possible. He ordered a quick war and successive victories against the Mexicans at the Port of Matamoros, Buena Vista and Santa Fe in 1846 meant that by September 1847 within a year that the war started the Mexican capital fell into American hands. The treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo was quickly drawn up and Mexico lost Texas and California for a mere $15 million, which was seen as an extraordinary triumph for the Americans. Historians have argued that the invasion of Mexico was unjustified and that President Polk had no right to do what he did. It is said that the Euro Americans took advantage of the young, independent and unstable government and forced them engage in an unfair and aggressive war so that the Americans could take 1 million square miles of their country away from them. It is argued that Polk provoked the war and that the annexation of Texas was an act of aggression to force the Mexican government to give up Texas and California. The Mexican war was seen by the Mexican people was a criminal offence and that America forced the Mexicans into the war. Professor of history Rodolfo Acuna argued that America fought the war because of theShow MoreRelatedMexico s Independence From Spain Becoming A Young Independent Country Essay1707 Words   |  7 Pagesfrom Spain becoming a young independent country. Mexico was faced with many challenges after the wars for independence. The economy had been r avaged. Many had died. The social dislocation caused by the wars and all its residual wounds had still to be healed. And in this chaotic environment the Mexican tried to forge a nation out of growing economic, social, and political, instability. 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