Causes Of The Mexican-American War
Mexican/American War 1846-1848
Between 1846-1848, two nations, the United States and Mexico went to war with each other. This was an important battle because it would transform a continent and would form new identities for all the people inhabiting the nations. The Mexican-American War was the first major conflict driven by the idea of “Manifest Destiny”; which is the belief that American had a God-given right, or destiny, to expand the country’s borders from ‘sea to shining sea.’ There were a few other driving forces for war and the outcome ended with a treaty. One cause of the war was the United States desire to expand all the way across to the Pacific Ocean. This caused conflicts with all of the U.S. neighbors such as the British in …show more content…
American settlers began moving into Texas territory after the Revolutionary War and they started exploring the land west of the Appalachian Mountains. Once the Louisiana Purchase was passed it stretched the western boundaries of the United States more west. From gaining all of this new land Americans noticed that the Texas land was big and filled with resources but it was largely part of Mexico. In 1835, Texas declared itself independent from Mexico. Mexico was upset by this and told the Americans to leave Texas. Mexican general Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna decided that words were not enough to get his message across to America so he took action.
Mexico of course did not like the idea of its breakaway province becoming an American state. Texas, and now the United States, claimed the border at the Rio Grande River. Mexico claimed territory as far north as the Nueces River. Both nations sent troops to enforce the competing claims. On April 25, 1846, a clash occurred between Mexican and American troops on soil claimed by both countries. The war had …show more content…
military embarked on a three-pronged strategy designed to take control of northern Mexico and force an early end to the war. Two American armies moved south from Texas, while a third force under Colonel Stephen Kearny traveled west to Sante Fe, New Mexico and then to California. In a series of battles at Palo Alto and Resaca de Palma , the army of General Zachary Taylor defeated the Mexican forces and began to move south after inflicting over a thousand casualties. In July and August of 1846, the United States Navy seized Monterey and Los Angeles in California. In September, 1846, Taylor's army fought General Ampudia's forces for control of the northern Mexican city of Monterey in a bloody three-day battle. Following the capture of the city by the Americans, a temporary truce ensued which enabled both armies to recover from the exhausting Battle of Monterey. During this time, former President Santa Anna returned to Mexico from exile and raised and trained a new army of over 20,000 men to oppose the invaders. Despite the losses of huge tracts of land, and defeat in several major battles, the Mexican government refused to make peace. It became apparent to the Polk Administration that only a complete battlefield victory would end the war. Continued fighting in the dry deserts of northern Mexico convinced the United States that an overland expedition to capture of the enemy capital, Mexico City, would be hazardous and difficult. To
Between 1846-1848, two nations, the United States and Mexico went to war with each other. This was an important battle because it would transform a continent and would form new identities for all the people inhabiting the nations. The Mexican-American War was the first major conflict driven by the idea of “Manifest Destiny”; which is the belief that American had a God-given right, or destiny, to expand the country’s borders from ‘sea to shining sea.’ There were a few other driving forces for war and the outcome ended with a treaty. One cause of the war was the United States desire to expand all the way across to the Pacific Ocean. This caused conflicts with all of the U.S. neighbors such as the British in …show more content…
American settlers began moving into Texas territory after the Revolutionary War and they started exploring the land west of the Appalachian Mountains. Once the Louisiana Purchase was passed it stretched the western boundaries of the United States more west. From gaining all of this new land Americans noticed that the Texas land was big and filled with resources but it was largely part of Mexico. In 1835, Texas declared itself independent from Mexico. Mexico was upset by this and told the Americans to leave Texas. Mexican general Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna decided that words were not enough to get his message across to America so he took action.
Mexico of course did not like the idea of its breakaway province becoming an American state. Texas, and now the United States, claimed the border at the Rio Grande River. Mexico claimed territory as far north as the Nueces River. Both nations sent troops to enforce the competing claims. On April 25, 1846, a clash occurred between Mexican and American troops on soil claimed by both countries. The war had …show more content…
military embarked on a three-pronged strategy designed to take control of northern Mexico and force an early end to the war. Two American armies moved south from Texas, while a third force under Colonel Stephen Kearny traveled west to Sante Fe, New Mexico and then to California. In a series of battles at Palo Alto and Resaca de Palma , the army of General Zachary Taylor defeated the Mexican forces and began to move south after inflicting over a thousand casualties. In July and August of 1846, the United States Navy seized Monterey and Los Angeles in California. In September, 1846, Taylor's army fought General Ampudia's forces for control of the northern Mexican city of Monterey in a bloody three-day battle. Following the capture of the city by the Americans, a temporary truce ensued which enabled both armies to recover from the exhausting Battle of Monterey. During this time, former President Santa Anna returned to Mexico from exile and raised and trained a new army of over 20,000 men to oppose the invaders. Despite the losses of huge tracts of land, and defeat in several major battles, the Mexican government refused to make peace. It became apparent to the Polk Administration that only a complete battlefield victory would end the war. Continued fighting in the dry deserts of northern Mexico convinced the United States that an overland expedition to capture of the enemy capital, Mexico City, would be hazardous and difficult. To