Going To War With Mexico Dbq Analysis

Texas stands as a state today because of a back and forth battle between Mexico and the United States. In late 1844, Polk was elected President of the United States. He wanted to annex Texas and he also had his eyes on California. Congress finally voted to annex Texas before he took office. Polk was delighted. On May 9, 1846, Mexican soldiers fired upon Americans on the “Texas side” of the Rio Grande, the area claimed by the United States. That action gave President Polk a justification for going to war with Mexico. Should the United States have gone to War with Mexico? The Americans going to war was justified for several reasons: Americans were fired upon first by Mexico, Mexico’s government was too weak to effectively govern such a large territory, and President Polk believed in Manifest Destiny. One reason that America went to war with Mexico was that the Mexicans fired upon Americans across the Rio Grande. President James Polk says, “We have tried every effort at reconciliation. But now, .... Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon American soil” (Doc B). President Polk tried to negotiate with Mexico but instead they invaded the United States and attacked us on our territory. The second reason America went to war with Mexico was that their government was too …show more content…
“Polk believed that it was God’s plan that America extend its territory all the way to the Pacific Ocean” (Background Essay). The original United States was made up of thirteen states that were all along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Over the years the territory was expanded to the Mississippi River. Then the U.S extended its borders west of the Mississippi. With this continual expansion, it is easy to understand why President Polk believed that it was God’s plan for the United States to expand all the way to the Pacific