The Mexican War - Mr. E's Forum: 2006-2007

Date: Apr 5, 2007

The Mexican War

Date: Apr 9, 2007

The Mexican War is considered a war of national pride, involving the common idea of Manifest Destiny. Manifest Destiny was the belief that the US was destined by God to spread and instill democracy. So who is easier to take over than Mexico! This was during the second great awakening, in which people like Ralph Waldo Emerson and other popular writers and influencial people began instilling ideas in the public. Emerson in particular did not like war, however, he did believe "most of the great results of history are brought about by discreditable means." In general, the Democrats wanted war and the Whigs did not.

This is a huge topic so there is def more to come!

Date: Apr 9, 2007

Mr e, can I respond to what Kathryn has right now, even though it's not done? Well I'll start I guess.

What I think is crazy in the Mexican War is how huge this idea was of westward expansion. And it was weird how people managed to put God and politics together, I mean, when does that happen?!? Just thinking that Manifest Destiny was the belief that the US was destined by God to spread and instill democracy is weird. But that's just how I feel.

Date: Apr 10, 2007

Brandi,
I'm not going to lie... it is pretty crazy. The man who created this belief is John L O'Sullivan in 1845 and at the time was a very influencial advocate for the Democratic Party (the party that was extremely supportive of the Mexican War). O'Sullivan wrote an essay called "Annexation" published in the Democratic Review, urging the the US to annex the Republic of Texas for two reasons....
Because Texas wanted to be annexed AND because it was America's "manifest destiny to overspread the continent". But "Manifest Destiny" was only popular until his second usage of the phrase on December 27, 1845 in the newspaper the New York Morning News. Here O'Sullivan addressed the boundary conflict between England and the Oregon County, arguing that the US had the right to claim "the whole of Oregon".

Now remember, this was around the time of the Second Great Awakening... therefore religion was playing a HUGE part of everyones life. People around the country were reading literature about transcendentalism or going to meetings that would clense their souls and save them from the infernos. Therefore, it is no wonder why O'Sullivan would intertwine religion into such a political matter... and it is no wonder why so many people began to agree with Manifest Destiny itself! I personally think they were all a little loony. But if it werent for this crazy and radical idea.... we may not have texas, arizona, new mexico or california. Thats a big part of America!! Everything works out in the long run (at least for the US).

Date: Apr 10, 2007

The Mexican War was highly controversial.... not entirely because we were basically conquering an area which belonged to the Spanish.... but because of slavery. After finishing the war and gaining loads of American Territories, representation of slave states in congress would become another problem.

A segment from Wikipedia: The annexation of Texas was controversial, however, since it would add another slave state to the Union. Presidents Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren declined Texas's offer to join the United States in part because the slavery issue threatened to divide the Democratic Party.

Date: Apr 11, 2007

General Situation of the Mexican War:

Wikipedia.com

The Mexican War was a military conflict fought between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848, in the wake of the 1845 U.S. annexation of Texas.

Mexico had not recognized the secession of Texas in 1836 and announced its intention to take back what it considered a rebel province.

In the United States, the war was a partisan issue, supported by most Democrats and opposed by most Whigs, with popular belief in the Manifest Destiny of the United States ultimately translating into public support for the war.

In Mexico, the war was considered a matter of national pride.

The most important consequence of the war was the Mexican Cession, in which the Mexican territories of California and New Mexico were ceded to the United States under the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
In Mexico, the enormous loss of territory which resulted from the war encouraged the central government to enact policies to colonize its northern territories as a hedge against further losses.

Date: Apr 11, 2007

People Involved:
Santa Anna:
A mexican political leader who greatly influenced early mexican and spanish politics and government, first fighting against independence from spain, and then becoming its cheif general and president at various times over a turbulent forty-year career.

In 1846, the US declared war on mexico. He felt it was necessary to use his military experience to fight off the foreign invasion of Mexico as he had in the past. President Valentin Gomez Farias was desperate enough to accept the offer and allowed Santa Anna to return.

Meanwhile, Santa Anna had secretly been dealing with representatives of the US, pledgingthat if he were allowed back in Mexico through the US navel blockades, he would work to sell all contested territory to the United States at a reasonable price.

Once back in Mexico at the head of an army, Santa Anna reneged on both of these agreements. Santa Anna declared himself president again and unsuccessfully tried to fight off the United States invasion.

Zachary Taylor:
He was an American military leader and twelfth president of the United States. Known as "Old Rough and Ready," Taylor had a 40-year military career in the US army serving in the war of 1812, Black Hawk War, and the Mexican War, where he achieved most of his fame.

He urged settlers in New Mexico and California to by-pass the territorial stage and draft constitutions for statehood, setting the stage for the Compromise of 1850.

Mariano Arista:
He was president of Mexico from 1851 to 1853 as well as a noted veteran of many of Mexico's nineteenth century wars.
Originally an officer in the Spanish Army Arista later joined the revolutionary army of Agustín de Iturbide. Later, Arista served under Santa Anna, Mexico's on and off dictator.

Winfield Scott:
A national hero after the Mexican War, he served as military governor of

Date: Apr 11, 2007

updated

Date: Apr 12, 2007

i'm not expert on the mexican war but i think i remember a man by the name of Sam Houston being involved. i was wondering if he played a notable role in the war and exactly what he did.

muy bien on the info above.

Date: Apr 14, 2007

DO yo believe in the ideaof Manifest Destiny and why?

Date: Apr 15, 2007

Umm, unless it's just my computer, Winfield Scott's description thing got cut off...so what exactly did he do during the Mexican War?, I'm drawing a blank...and you covered a lot of information, so I don't really have anything to add, or anything really to ask, good job! smile

Date: Apr 15, 2007

Alex J,
Yes Sam Houston was extremely important actually! He was a statesman, politician and soldier. The Virginia-born Houston was a key figure in the history of Texas, including periods as President of the Republic of Texas, Senator for Texas after it joined the Union, and finally as governor. He soon became a leader of the Texas Revolution. He supported annexation by the United States rather than seeking long term independence and expansion for Texas.

Date: Apr 15, 2007

Jarred,
I must say that I do not believe in the idea of Manifest Destiny. I mean, the fact that the US was destined by God to take over nearby territory that didnt belong to us is out of the question. It was all a big excuse to be bullies and take our neighbors stuff. But hey.... I'm not complaining because the US is big and powerful now and it wouldnt be the same if Texas, California, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado werent states.

Date: Apr 15, 2007

Tanya,
Yeah, My bad. Winfield Scott seemed to get cut off.

During the Mexican War, Scott commanded the southern of the two United States armies (Zachary Taylor commanded the northern army). In this campaign, Scott displayed a U.S. military doctrine that would be used in every subsequent war: to get on the enemy's flanks by using seapower. He won the battles... as usual... and became known as a military hero down in texas.

Date: Apr 26, 2007

updated

Date: Apr 30, 2007

What did we gain from the Mexican War? Is then when we acquired Texas or California. I'm confused.

Date: May 8, 2007

updated

Date: May 9, 2007

President- James Polk

Causes: Manifest Destiny
-Texas boundary dispute
-South's desire for new slave territory

will continue...

Date: May 9, 2007

Yep the North despised it beacuse they ebelieved it was for only more slave land and that eventually there will be more slave states and that would throw off the balance of slvae and free states.

Date: May 9, 2007

continuation of my last post...

Important Military Events:
-Buena Vista
-Siege of Veracruz
-Mexico City

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Terms:
-The US got Mexican Cession
-There was an agreement on the Texas border

Importance of the war:
-It fulfilled Manifest Destiny
-It re-opened the debate over expansion of slavery (Wilmot Proviso)
-It led to the Compromise of 1850

wootwoot!

Date: May 10, 2007

The Mexican War between the United States and Mexico began with a Mexican attack on American troops along the southern border of Texas on Apr. 25, 1846. Fighting ended when U.S. Gen. Winfield Scott occupied Mexico City on Sept. 14, 1847, a few months later a peace treaty was signed (Feb. 2, 1848) at Guadalupe Hidalgo. In addition to recognizing the U.S. annexation of Texas (dealing with US Policy) defeated Mexico ceded California and New Mexico (including all the present-day states of the Southwest) to the United States.

kelseyyyyy

Date: May 10, 2007

I mentioned earlier U.S. policy, w/ Texas.

The U.S. annexation of Texas, by a joint congressional resolution (Feb. 27-28, 1845), had caused considerable political debate in the United States. The desire of the Texas Republic to join the United States had been blocked for several years by antislavery forces, who feared that several new slave states would be created from the Texas territory. The principal factor that led the administration of John Tyler to take action was British interest in independent Texas.