Mexico Dbq Analysis

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In 1821, Mexico gained its independence from Spain, but 25 years later, Mexico had to endure another war. Culture differences between Mexico and the U.S led to conflict . Mexico was Catholic and the U.S. mostly were Protestant/Pro-Slavery. Once James K. Polk was elected, everything changed. Polk not only wanted Texas, he wanted California as well. The thing is, California was still Mexico’s territory. Texas, however, was not, after winning their independence from Mexico in 1836. Polk tried to settle the dispute over the land by sending General Taylor and the American troops into the disputed area in the southern part of Texas. Polk also sent John Slidell to Mexico City to try and buy California from Mexico, this angered the Mexican government. On May 9, 1846, Mexican soldiers fired on American soldiers on the Texas side of Rio Grande. After this moment, President Polk declared war. But the U.S. was not justified to go to war with Mexico because the U.S. was being the aggressor in disputed territory, the movement west meant the spread of slavery, and the U.S. stubbornly spreading their culture. By the U.S. being the aggressor over disputed territory, they were not justified to declare war with Mexico. John L. O’Sullivan stated in an article called, “Annexation” that “California will, probably, next fall away from Mexico,” (Doc. A). What O’Sullivan meant was that him (and the U.S.) selfishly wanted California to break away from Mexico. What they really wanted was to gain more land from the west, but so did Mexico. In another article, there is a Mexicans point of view of the war. His name is Jesus Velasco-Marquez. He refers to “The Mexican War”, but he likes to call it “The U.S. Invasion.” (Doc C.) But why? The reason Mexican’s refer to The Mexican War as The U.S. Invasion is because when General Taylor commanded troops at Rio Grande (the U.S. interpretation of the border between the U.S. and MX) the Mexican government interpreted this as an attack on Mexico. Because the U.S troops was on disputed territory. Therefore, by the U.S. being somewhat selfish of wanting land, it was unjustified to declare war on Mexico. The U.S. was not justified to go into war with Mexico because it increased the spread of slavery. Charles Sumner stated that, “Slaveholders crossed the Sabine (river between Louisiana and Texas) with their slaves, in defiance of the Mexican ordinance of freedom,” (Doc. D). What he means by this was as Americans moved west, so did slavery. Charles Sumner also mentioned the defiance of the Mexican ordinance of freedom. Defiance means open resistance. The U.S. was basically ignoring Mexico’s rule of freedom by bringing slaves. Sumner also states that, “Mexico on achieving her independence of the Spanish crown...decreed the abolition of human slavery within her dominions, embracing the province of Texas,” (Doc D). What Sumner meant was that Mexico wanted to decree, or to decide what is to be done …show more content…
was not justified to go to war with Mexico because of the U.S. stubbornly spreading their culture, in ignore of others. John O’Sullivan stated, “limiting our greatness and checking the fulfillment of our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence (God) for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions” (Doc. A). What this meant was in O’Sullivan’s point of view, other nations didn’t believe in manifest destiny. By multiplying millions, O’Sullivan meant that he wanted to force their culture onto immigrants coming to the U.S. John O’Sullivan also stated, “The Anglo Saxon foot is already on (California’s) borders… armed with the plough and the rifle, and marking its trail with schools and colleges, courts, and representative halls, mills, and meeting-houses… All this (will happen) in the natural flow of events” (Doc. A). What O’Sullivan meant was that he wants to spread/bring the United States’ culture, such as, education, democracy, and industry to new people as they move west. John O’Sullivan basically wanted the whole continent to be Protestant/Pro-Slavery and for everyone else to change their culture. The United States was being ignorant to other cultures. By the U.S. forcing their culture onto other cultures they were not just to go into war with

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