Last week we looked at the Oregon Trail, which a decidedly more positive element of Westward Expansion than this week's topic. Well...except for the growing hostilities between the emigrants and the native tribes.
This week we look at Mr. Polk's war: The War with Mexico. Since the earliest exploration days (remember Chapter 2, Cortes, etc?), Spain owned a MASSIVE amount of land in North America. Essentially everything from the southern tip of Central America all the way to Washington (the state, NOT D.C.) was known as Mexico. In 1821, Spain lost control of all this land. Soon, Americans were invited by the Mexican government to move into Texas to help cultivate the land. Well, the Americans quickly outnumbered the Mexicans which led to the Texan War For Independence (Sam Houston, Davy Crockett, The Alamo etc.)
Years later, James Polk promised to acquire the rest of the Mexican Territory and he accomplished this by going to war. This conflict is often overlooked in history classes, but it plays a key role in setting up the Civil War as well as expanding our border all the way to the Pacific Ocean. This war is also important because there was a large anti-war group in America who thought this was a totally unjust and immoral fight. One such outspoken anti-war leader was a young Whig politician known as Abraham Lincoln.
For this week's blog, please visit this site and spend AT LEAST 30 minutes reading the various sections. There is a lot to digest, most of which won't be familiar to you, so soak it in. Don't rush through this. In the comment section, please list the 30 most important facts you learned about this conflict from this website. Conclude your comments with you analysis of the war: Was it justified? If Polk wanted this land so badly, could he have gotten it another way? Was war the only option?
Part 1
ReplyDelete1. Individual traders were the most ledgendary traders on the Santa Fe Trail.
2. Before the Panic of 1837, Mexican silver helped increase our prices.
3. After the US-Mexican War, Mexico's trade with us grew more rapidly with its trade with Europe.
4. The reputation of James K. Polk generated mixed opinions.
5. Mexico had a tough time forming a peaceful and stable transfer of political power.
6. At the beginning of the war. Mexico covered more than 1/3 of the North American continent.
7. At the conclusion of the war, Mexico lost nearly 1/2 of its territory to the US.
8. Mexico had done little to develop mineral resources.
9. The war marked a major event when media played an important role in fighting a war.
10. The Treaty of Guatelupe Hildalgo ended the war.
11. Oldest treaty still in force between US and Mexico.
12. US acquired over 50,000 square miles of valuable land.
13. Treaty helped fulfill Manifest Destiny.
14. Because the US won the war, we got to dictate the terms of the continent.
15. After the treaty was signed, it still had to be approved by both congresses of US and Mexico.
16. In both countries, there was opposition to the treaty.
17. Since 1848, Mexican Americans and Native Americans have had trouble achieving political and social equality.
18. Although it was promised that all Mexicans living in the US would get citizenship, most didn't.
19. Former Mexican citizens were considered foreigners.
20. Property rights were not what they seemed.
Ok, Mexico had received their independence from Spain in 1821, America was interested in Manifest Destiny, through manifest destiny the Americans extended their boundaries of freedom, the US had a high birth rate and increase in population due to immigration thus the want to expand, Mexico’s northern land wasn’t very colonized, the reason for the above is because of constant warfare with natives, Mexico lost nearly half of their land after the war, “occupation newspapers” were newspapers that provided info for the US troops and the general public during the war, America won the battle at Veracruz, there were 13 battles during the war, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the war in 1848, the US gained over 500,000 square miles of valuable territory from the war, during the war Mexico had a hard time staying united, “it has been said that the united states got land and Mexico got lessons”, according to Polk, the war was Mexico’s fault , we had to go to war with Mexico because they invaded Texas and shed American blood, the Americans lost no major battle, and commerce expanded and travel increased after war.
ReplyDeleteI feel like polk wanted the war because the Mexicans had come onto our soil and shed American blood. I don’t think it was justified, but we won so yay for that. And war may have not been the only option. He could have tried to negotiate something before declaring war on them. (243)
1. The American Army Never Lost a Major Battle
ReplyDelete2. In 1835, all of Texas, California, Nevada and Utah and parts of Colorado, Arizona, Wyoming and New Mexico were part of Mexico.
3. Conditions were bad
4. The Battle of Chapultepec is probably the most famous battle
5. Many Civil War generals were in this war.
6. Ulysses S Grant was in this war.
7. Mexico’s officers were terrible
8. Santa Anna was the best Mexican general.
9. Mexico’s politics were also bad
10. Mexico had no political leadership at this time.
11. Mexico had 6 different presidents during this time
12. The presidency changed 9 times
13. During the war some American soldiers to join the Mexicans
14. Most of the soldiers that join the Mexicans were Irish.
15. They founded an artillery unit called the St. Patrick’s artillery brigade.
16. They were all captured and killed for desertion.
17. The United States top diplomat disobeyed polks orders to negotiate a treaty with the Mexicans.
18. If he would have left the treaty would not have been signed.
19. His name was Nicolas Frisk.
20. The 1st battle of the war took place at Paolo alto.
21. The Americans won this battle and the battle after it
22. At the battle of Monterey Gen. Zachary Taylor attacked the city from 2 sides and conquered it in two days
23. The next battle was the battle of Buena Vista, it was the closest to a Mexican victory.
24. Gen. Santa Anna almost took out the weekend Zachary Taylor
25. The Americans won this battle.
26. The next battle was the battle of Veracruz
27. Next was the battle of Cerro Gordo.
28. After that I was the battle of contrareas
29. Next was the battle of molino no Debray
30. The final battle was the siege of Mexico City.
1. Mexico got independence from Spain in 1821.
ReplyDelete2. The Mexican Government let Americans come into Texas to fill the land.
3. Jams K. Polk wanted to expand the country.
4. Mexico had problems in its government since its independence in 1821 to the war with the U.S.
5. When the war started Mexico covered one-third of the North American Continent.
6. Mexico lost only a little land after Texas won its independence.
7. Mexico thought that the border for Texas was the Nueces River.
8. Texas said the border was the Rio Grande.
9. Zachary Taylor served as a general in the war.
10. Polk sent troops into that territory and pretty much started the war on purpose.
11. Mexico had lowlands on the coast on the east side of the country.
12. Mexico had a lot of plains in the East near present day Colorado.
13. When the war ended in 1848 Mexico gave up half of its land to the U.S.
14. Gold was discovered in California the year the war ended.
15. John Marshall was the first to find gold in California in 1848.
16. Some people in Mexico thought Santa Anna was a great leader.
17. Some people thought he was abusing the power he had.
18. If Mexico hadn't disputed with Texas about the border there wouldn't have been a war.
19. The U.S. gained New Mexico, Arizona, and California form the war.
20. There were Mexicans and Natives in the land we got.
21. People still fought over land even after the war was over.
22. The newspaper played a big part in telling everyone how the war was going.
23. Newspaper also supported or condemned the war.
24. There were almost 38,000 deaths during the war mostly from disease.
25. The war came to a close with the battle at Mexico City.
26. This battle was on September 13 and 14.
27. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed on February 2, 1848.
28. The U.S. troops were led by General Winfield Scott.
29. The U.S. acquired 500,000 square miles because of the war.
30. We paid Mexico 15 million dollars for the land.
The war shouldn't have been fought because we didn't need the land and it just ended in lost lives. In the end we bought the land anyways so Polk should have tried to buy the land from them first. War obviously wasn't the only option.
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1. Before the war, Mexico suffered from deep internal political divisions.
ReplyDelete2. While Thomas Jefferson was president, we tried to claim parts of Texas but it didn't work.
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3. People had mixed feelings about Polk.
4. Some thought he was one of the nation's strongest commander-in-chiefs.
5. Some thought he was a narrow-minded aggressive expansionist who provoked war.
6.Polk paid extreme attention to detail.
7. Polk took Andrew Jackson's warnings about Britain to consideration because he was "Young Hickory."
8. When Polk sent John Slidell to negotiate with Mexico he wanted 4 things: to settle the Rio Grande boundary, to settle the claims issues, and to possibly purchase California and New Mexico.
9. Polk only wanted to ask about California and New Mexico because he heard that Britain wanted it also.
10. Polk didn't think the war would last very long.
11. After Mexico offered to sell California and New Mexico, they still kept fighting.
12. Polk will always be harshly judged for the war.
13. Some people think that Santa Anna of Mexico was way more intelligent than Polk.
14. By the end of the war, Mexico had lost nearly half of its territory.
15. By the end of the war, the U.S. had become a continental power.
16. Hostilities between the U.S. and Mexico lasted from April of 1846 to September of 1847.
17. Together, the two countries lost 38,000 soldiers.
18. General Zachary Taylor captured Monterrey on September 25, 1846.
19. General Winfield Scott captured Veracruz on March 28, 1847.
20. General Santa Anna declared victory on American troops under Taylor and Scott at the Battle of Buena Vista.
21. The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo ended the war.
22. The Americans got over 500,000 square miles of land from the treaty.
23. The U.S.believed Manifest Destiny to be the reason they got all this land.
24. Manifest Destiny- Americans were destined by God to expand throughout the continent.
25. The U.S. considered themselves superior to Mexico so they kind of got to dictate the treaty.
26. Although we won, we still paid for the land we got.
27. The treaty made the Rio Grande the southern boundary of Texas.
28. The price of the land went from $20 million to $15 million because some thought the U.S. had paid enough in "blood and treasure."
29. Mexico thought that they were much nicer to Americans than they were to them.
30. At the time of the war, some Mexicans didn't see that they were fighting eachother.
1. Mexico and the U.S. were the total opposite- we looked ahead, they looked to the past
ReplyDelete2. We believed in Manifest Destiny
3. Mexico got independence from Spain and struggled the thrive
4. We used Manifest Destiny to extend our boundaries
5. America’s population is growing so we need to extend
6. Before the war, Mexico owned Texas, California, Nevada, and Utah and parts of Colorado, Arizona, Wyoming, and New Mexico
7. Mexico covered more than 1/3 of the continent
8. Mexico lost a ton of their land after the way
9. James K. Polk had mixed opinions about him
10. Mexico struggled to create a government system
11. After the war, the United States became a continental power
12. Struggles over land continued after the war
13. America won the Battle of Veracruz
14. War marked an advancement in media
15. Printers established “occupation newspapers”
16. 38,000 soldiers died
17. 1,700 U.S. deaths were battle related
18. The Battle of Cerro Gordo led to the capture of Mexico City
19. The U.S. captured Mexico City
20. Treaty of Guadalupe ended the war
21. The U.S. got more 500,000 square miles
22. Fulfilled Manifest Destiny
23. Manifest Destiny- God destined us to take the land
24. We paid $15 million for the land
25. Treaty made the Rio Grande the border of Texas
26. Mexico thought we were not nice
27. We originally were going to pay $20 million
28. Americans thought they were better than the Mexicans
29. Gold was discovered in California
30. We won the war
James K. Polk thought he was justified since God “gave” us the land or whatever. I do not think it was worth it since we still paid for the land. We could have just paid them in the first place. (301)
1. Individual traders were most legendary traders on the Santa Fe Trail.
ReplyDelete2. Mexican silver helped increase our prices.
3. Before the war, Mexico covered more than 1/3 of America
4. The treaty of Guadalupe-Hildalgo ended the war
5. Treaty fulfilled Manifest Destiny
6. Oldest treaty between Mexico and US
7. both had opposition to treaty
8. Former Mexican citizens were considered foreigners
9. It was promised all Mexicans living in the US would get citizenship
10. American army never lost a major battle
11. the Battle of Chapultepec is probably the most famous battle.
12. Mexico's officers were not great
13. Mexico had no political leadership in 1835
14. Mexico's president changed 9 times during this time
15. Santa Anna is Mexico's best general
16. in America people know about Polk
17. Polk was young hickory
18. America at this time became continental power
19. General Zachary Taylor captured Monterey on September 25, 1846
20. General Winfield Scott captured Veracruz on March 28, 1847
21. America got over 500,000 acres from the Guadalupe- hidalgo treaty.
22. Believed Manifest- Destiny was the reason for this.
23. cost 15 million.
24. was 20 but blood and treasure lowered it.
25. Mexico was supposedly nicer to America than we were to them
26. Gadsden purchase 10 million dollars
27. Rio Grande is Texas' border with Mexico
28. When we won the war we still had to pay for land.
29. Manifest Destiny- Americans were Destined by God to expand throughout the continent
30. Some didn't know we were fighting Mexico
1. Mexico's silver helped us increase our prices
ReplyDelete2. Their were 2 sides of polk.
3. one was narrow minded aggresive
4. the other one was commander in cheif
5. 1/3 of America was taken by Mexico.
6. the treaty of Guadalupe-Hildalgo ended the war.
7. we fufilled the manifest destiny
8. in 1848 the war ended
9. we took half of mexico land
10. Mexico had no political leader
11. they changed president 6 times
12. presidency 9 times
13.Santa Anna was their best general
14.Polk was young hickory
15. 38,000 died
16.1,700 related to battle
17. 500,000 acres from the treaty
18. believe that menifest destiny did this
19.God destined us to take the land
20. we won, but we had to pay for the land
21. 15 million for land
22. were going to pay 20 million
23. we had to get treaty with us and mexico
24. mexico thought we were not nice
25.rio grande was the border with texas and mexico
26. the purchase of 10 million was the gadsden purshase
27. some didnt know we were fighting mexico
28.The U.S. troops were led by General Winfield Scott.
29. polk was justified
30. war was not the only option well sorta
1) Mexico became independent from Spain in 1821
ReplyDelete2) 3,200 Mexicans lived in California
3) 40,000 lived in New Mexico
4) 2,500 lived in Texas
5) Manifest destiny was used as a reason to expand our borders
6) James K. Polk had differing views about himself from others
7) A growing population was used as another reason to expand
8) Mexico covered more than 1/3 of North America
9) America was victorious in the Battle of Veracruz
10) Gold was discovered in California
11) America paid $15 mil. for the land
12) We were originally going to pay $20 mil.
13) Americans looked down on Mexicans
14) Rio Grande was set as the border
15) 1,700 battle related deaths
16) Mexico struggled to form a gov.
17) We got more than 500,000 square mi.
18) Media was advanced by the war
19) Land struggles continued after the war
20) America of coarse won the war
21) Mexico looked to the past for their culture
22) Polk’s nickname was “Young Hickory”
23) Winfield Scot led the troops
24) Some people didn’t know we were fighting a war
25) U.S. became powerful after the war
26) We also captured Mexico City
27) Mexico previously owned at least parts of 8 states
28) Occupation Newspapers were invented
29) Treaty of Guatalupe-Hidalgo ened the war
30) Mexico hated the U.S.
What happened was not justified in any way. We were too focused on greed and power. Also, war was not the only option; we could’ve offered more money and easily gotten the land.
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1 go ahead nation
ReplyDelete2we seem really self-centered
3the extreme difference in perspectives on Polk
4media had a field day with the war
5media took sides and formed the public opinion
638,000 soldiers 1america died altogether
7 general Winfield Scott led 10000 men to collado beach
81,700 U.S deaths were battle related the rest was from disease
9 3,000 Mexican troops were bolted up during Veracruz
101,000 troops were isolated in fort san jaun de ulua
11history never ends
12 this was is relevant today because it is a distinction between a just and unjust war
13the new border split up family’s
14the Mexicans language was taken
15there was a lot more than violence involved in this war
16a lot of the war was about land and money
17the land for cotton would increase slave population
18 it sounds like they tried to prove a point
19they wanted it to be obvious who they thought the dominant people group was
20existence was erased
21people were put in a situation where their homes were suddenly in a country that didn’t want them
22there cultures were unexeptable
23mexicans had and have to affirm who they are now
24the morality of this war was heavily argued
25polk thought it was moral because American soldiers were killed on “American soil”
26it was also moral because they wouldn’t let us buy their land -.-
27ultimatly we had a weak motive for fighting
28we had an effective way to get the land (but we ignored the plan)
29the war lasted 2 years
30 the war ended with the treaty of Guadalupe hidalgo
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ReplyDeleteI don’t really understand why the war actually happened; it doesn’t sound that logical honestly. We had a way that we had previously been getting our land that was obviously pretty successful but instead of doing that we had a war in which a ton of American soldiers were probably miserable and died. I honestly think the biggest reason they did this was because they felt like it and everything about manifest destiny mad them feel awesome so they wanted to hold up to that.444
1.America was split in half over Manifest Destiny.
ReplyDelete2.Our country has always had a shameful amount of racism with silly reasons to justify it.
3.Romanticism was a very important period in European intellectual literary history and a lot of the European ideas and expressions came to the United States.
4.People in the United States had a reputation that they were in awe of nothing and nothing could stand in their way.
5.1830’2 and 40’s- A growing period for America
6.The rotary press in 1846 made possible the mass production of newspapers more cheaply than ever before.
7.Change was so plentiful that some had a hard time getting used to it.
8.The phrase, “manifest destiny,” first appears in print in July of 1845 in the "Democratic Review" in reference to the Texas issue
9. Some of the things that were happening bordered on the miraculous, such as the magnetic telegraph in 1844.
10. The American changes caused anxiety, restlessness, concern, and apprehension on the part of individuals whose lives were changing.
11.People over and over were talking about democracy as the best form of government because they thought that it was adapted to the happiness of mankind and was God's plan for mankind.
12.U.S./Mexican trade played a part in their war.
13.For the United States, overall trade flows to and from Mexico were small, but their effects could be significant.
14.Regional markets, particularly in Texas, were probably much affected by the overland trade in cattle, horses, and mules.
15.The rapid growth of the U.S. economy after 1840 both enlarged the U.S. market for Mexican goods and made the United States an even larger supplier of finished goods to Mexico.
16.To many, Polk was the superhero who got us more land- even though he did it in questionable ways.
17. Others thought Polk was a narrow-minded, aggressive expansionist who bullied a neighboring nation and provoked a war.
18.Mexico struggled to develop a governmental system that would allow a peaceful and stable transfer of political power on the national level.
19.Real or perceived weaknesses caused by factional disputes encouraged European government to try to take advantage of Mexico during the decades preceding the war with the United States.
20. Internal conflicts in America and Mexico seemed to bring out the fire in their war together.
21.Polk really had no right to take the Mexican’s land.
22.The Mexicans had every right to fight for their land.
23.The United States should not have won what they did, even if they paid for it.
24. The war was two years long, which is a long time for something that shouldn’t have happened.... *ahem*TrailofTears*ahem*
25.Issues with Mexico and America still occur today.
26.Polk had a great vision, but caused us lasting problems to achieve it.
27.The war was considered “inevitable,” but we could have backed off unscathed at any time.
28.Mexico felt that America was bullying them anyways, so why not fight back?
29.I’m guessing this was shameful for Mexico; they fought to get their land and then lost it along with some of their mean.
30.This shouldn’t have happened for the sake of Texas (as much as I love, love, love Texas)!
This, as I have previously expressed, shouldn’t have happened. Case closed.
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