The Impact of Mexican American War on The Us

Mexico had long insisted that its northern border lay along the Nueces River. The United States said the border was farther south, along the Rio Grande. In June of 1845, President Polk ordered General Zachary Taylor to lead an army into the challenged region. I think the United States should not have entered into the Mexican-American war because the northern part of the United States was having political interests were against the addition of a new slave state. The Mexican government was also wanting border raids and warning that any attempt at over taking would lead to war. I think it is unjustified to cause a war over a border land.

America is trying to grow and gain more land so when offered to buy land off Mexico it was not supposed to be a threat or a way to anger Mexico. The United States believe that they can do the work themselves and that it is unjust to have other humans to do it for them. In the north they also fear that spread of slavery into the Southwestern lands. Mexico was justly trying to crush a rebellion in Texas, and the Americans interfered on Texas’ behalf. President Polk believed the United States had a manifest destiny to spread across the continent to the Pacific Ocean. Overall there were many cultural differences between the Mexicans and the Americans settlers in the area. Also the refusal of Mexico to admit the independence of Texas and its entrance to the United States.

I think the Mexican-American War made such a tremendous impact on the tension between Northern and Southern states during the pre-Civil War era. I think this because this war marked the first U.S armed conflict fought on foreign soil. It opposed a politically divide and militarily unprepared Mexico against administration of the United States President James K. Polk. The fight was along the Rio Grande and it started off the fighting and was followed by many United States victories. Mexico had lost about 1/3 of its territory, including nearly all of present-day California, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico. In February 1848, the United States and Mexico signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which officially ended the war and forced Mexico to turn over much of its northern territory to the United States. I think this is a very important part in history and it has impacted the life we do live today.