MEXICAN AND AMERICAN
United States justification in the war between Mexicans and Americans
In 1846 the United States went in to a war with the Mexicans. Unlike the Mexicans the United States had various justifications as to why they were ending to this war. These justifications can be attributed to various factors. The propaganda by President James Polk back in 1846 motivated the United States towards engaging in to this war ([BOOK][B] The Mexican War, 1846-1848)
. Whereas the Mexicans thought that they were only protecting their territory by attacking the army who had crossed the river which was their border Polk tried to misinterpret what the situation was. He was trying to make it sound like the Mexicans shed blood upon American soil. The Americans also had the justification to engaging in this war as they wanted to expand their command in territory. The Americans were greedy with how much land they wanted.
“Imbecile and distracted. Mexico can never exert any real government authority over such a country…” (O’ Sullivan Doc A).The above quoting Cleary shows that the Americans had no faith with the Mexicans that they can exercise any authority. This made them feel justified that they needed to engage in this war and exercise their superiority over the Mexicans as they saw them as inferiors. The Americans also felt justified to get in to this war because of the state of slavery in Texas. Driven by economic ambitions and a sense that the United States was “destined” to span the entire continent, the war also raised the issue of how acquisition of such a large territory would affect the balance between slave and Free states.
References
Mr. Polk’s army: the American military experience in the Mexican
[BOOK][B] The Mexican War, 1846-1848
The U.S.-Mexican War | PBS
[BOOK][B] The Mexican War, 1846-1848