Becoming a part of humanities core has caused me to reflect on the many interpretations of what an empire is, and how it has a strong impact on modern living. Thus, it has made me connect to modern day America and its conflicts towards my Hispanic culture. This course has so far caused me to acknowledge both the good and bad sides of an empire and how its people and choices can create either a positive effect or a complete havoc on some of its population. Therefore, I will be making this connection by incorporating my personal observations of how most Mexicans are treated in America and also connecting it with the Mexican-American war.
The notion that America is “the land of the free …show more content…
U.S President Polk prevailed on purchasing Texas and California from Mexico and became enraged when they denied to hand over their territory to the American empire. But, President Polk followed under the philosophy of manifest destiny; which is the belief that it was America’s God-given right to expand their land all the way to the Pacific Ocean in order to spread democracy- no matter the price. Thus, the American empire used manifest destiny as an excuse for their egoism and barbarous actions because they believed it was “divine” and therefore permissible to temper with Mexico and inaugurate a war with them. The American empire then overwhelmed and slaughtered the Mexican army and are described to have “acted like [bandits] who came upon [travelers]” (Velasco-Márquez). Soon after, Mexico succumbed from the war through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that gave into the U.S empire by surrendering Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas, and most of New Mexico. In essence, these states are Mexico’s native lands that the American empire erroneously took by the force of war (History.com