Mexican American War Analysis

In 1848, the Americans saw themselves as an impenetrable force. The nation had twice proved victorious over a greater oppressing force. The Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, were glorious because they ended an injustice. In contrast, the Mexican ­American War was incited by American injustice and the corrupt dream of President Polk. President Polk was known as “Polk the Purposeful” his objective was to expand the nation (The American). The United States was not justified in going to war with Mexico for the act was hypocritical of American ideals, fought for trivial goals of a tyrant that were executed in a manner that opposed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness which were established in the Declaration of Independence.
The first inalienable right introduced, is that of preserving life. It is well established that war is a poor method of preserving life. Yet, President Polk still uses the loss of life as a reason to fight. In his “Declaration of War,” Polk urges Americans to fight, claiming, Mexican troops are “shedding American blood upon American soil," to incorrectly imply that the Americans are victims, and therefore their lives are in …show more content…
So, American blood was not shed on American soil. Furthermore, President Polk’s claim does not account for the battles circumstance. The background essay explains that the United States’ government was aware that the annexation of Texas would anger the Mexican Officials. Therefore, the United States must have “provoked the war” as Howard Zinn suggested. The idea of provoking the war implies that the war’s happening is the fault of the American people. If this is true, than America is the cause of the loss of countless lives as well. Thus, President Polk established the Mexican­ American War on the intentional destruction of life which is explicitly banned upon in the nation 's