Expansion across North America, known as “Manifest Destiny” was a popular belief during the 1840s. Believing it to be their divine right, Americans set forth across America in an effort to broaden the horizons of America and democracy. At this stage in American history, they were attempting to establish themselves as a world power. Having driven out their enemies and achieved their freedom led them to believe they could rid the West of the natives and assume control of the land. Beginning in the North, Americans captured land from Canada and adopted it as part of Maine. Next were Texas and Oregon, two interests that were very appealing to Americans. Unfortunately, the 54-40 line was a motivating factor that reinforced the ideals of Manifest Destiny throughout the country. The desire to seek out new ventures and the conflict with their nemesis, Britain, was an inevitable outcome. In the Presidential campaign of 1844, Clay and Polk were arguing over the issue of expansion. Polk rode the national desire of obtaining Texas and Oregon to victory. The national interest in expanding fueled the fire to seek out their divine right and promote the ideals they have the privilege of living by.  

            The forces that may have prevented Manifest Destiny from occurring included more diplomatic methods in solving their issues. By the time America was seeking out their divine right, they were no longer open to the ideas of peacefully resolving conflicts now that they were able to use violence. Ensuring victory was now the prize sought after by everyone. The increased prospects of the economy in the South and the growing spirit of technology throughout the country ignited a passion to share their wealth with the rest of the continent. Unfortunately, this desire misdirected their action as they truly sought out dominance over more land and people. Another way Manifest Destiny might have been avoided would have been a failure to buy into the proposition of seeking out lands that were not their own in the first place. It was a sound argument concerning the land in New England, but the land out West proposed different situations. No matter the case, whether Americans would have maintained a more diplomatic approach or not seek out new lands, the desire to expand would have arrived sooner or later. Possessing power and wealth forced our nation to act on those feelings, a fact that could be avoided temporarily, but not forever.

Part 2-What were the causes and consequences of the Mexican War?

            One of the consequences of Manifest Destiny was the Mexican War. Caused by the desire to expand the country to the west, a conflict with those in the possession of the land was bound to take place. As Polk and America were continuing their quest, the only thing that stood between them and California was Mexico. Unfortunately, relations with Mexico were rather embittered due to an argument over monetary claims for damage to American citizens. Coupled with a revolutionary government, the situation worsened when Americans set their eyes on Texas. Although the land was owned by the Mexicans, there were a considerable number of Americans living there. Realizing the destiny of their mother country, the Texans sought to free themselves of the control of the Mexicans. After hearing of the British attempt to purchase California, America made one last ditch effort to acquire California. Their failure resulted in a violent confrontation.

            The Mexican War was a battle over lands America wanted that Mexico possessed. When Taylor’s men were attacked on questionable land, it was argued that Polk had provoked the conflict by sending the military onto Mexican soil. After the fighting began, the turning point of the war came at the Battle of Buena Vista. Santa Ana’s forces were defeated even though they were larger in numbers. Coupled with Vera Cruz and the journey through the Southwest, the finality in Mexico City was an inevitability. The consequences of this war, which was fought from a moral standing on both sides, was the eventual rule of America from coast to coast. When it was all said and done, the war didn’t cost an exorbitant loss of life, but it did increase the size of the nation by over a third. Some refer to this war as the training ground for the Civil War. The soldiers from both the North and South would gain valuable experience on the battlefields of the Mexican War. Preparing the men for the upcoming conflict was almost as significant as the addition of more land.

During the 1840’s and the 1850’s the people of America experienced the emotional upsurge to expand, known as the Manifest Destiny.  At the time Americans believed that this destiny was inevitable.  However there is barely anything that is inevitable.  The expansion of America into the rest of North America could have been stopped by many different events.  If President Polk was not elected in the election of 1844, it could have been stopped.  If the British were more determined to have their way, it could have been stopped.  Also if the events surrounding Texas would have gone in a different direction, it could have been stopped.  History is full of ifs that will never be answered; all that is and will be known is what actually happened.   

The people of America in the 1840’s and 1850’s possessed the belief that they were destined to spread their government and other institutions over the entire continent, and then maybe even South America.  These people believed in a “Manifest Destiny” that God had given to America. 

            Oregon country was owned by the United States and Britain peacefully for a period of time.  However when the negotiations of the Treaty of 1818 began, there was an argument between the two countries over what would be the border of their two shares.  The United States wanted it to be the forty-ninth parallel, but the British wanted it to be the Columbia River.  If the British had not agreed to the line of 49 degrees in 1846, the American expansion into Oregon could have been stopped.  The British decided to give the United States their desire in order to prevent the risk of a war between the two countries.  If a war did occur, the desire to expand throughout the continent could have been hindered, or even completely abolished.

            Texas could have ended the Manifest Destiny of the American people.  Since 1836, Texas was neither independent nor a part of the United States.  Mexico continued to refuse to recognize Texas as an independent nation and they even threatened to fight if America attempted to help Texas.  Texas was then forced to search for support from other countries to help pay for their military expenses.  Belgium, France, and Holland all had treaties created with Texas in 1839 and 1840.  Even the British were seeing Texas as an opportunity to harm the United States.  By 1845, The United States annexed Texas in order to prevent the foreign powers from remaining so close to America.  Manifest Destiny could have also been stopped if Texas was not annexed to the United States. 

            This emotional increase called the Manifest Destiny was seen in the presidential campaign of 1844.  The expansionists Democrats were greatly influenced by Manifest Destiny; the platform of James K. Polk, the candidate of this party, was for America to annex Texas again and to occupy Oregon.  Polk eventually won, and Americans were able to live out their desire to expand.  However, if Polk did not win, Americans might not have been able to expand throughout North America; Henry Clay, the candidate of the Whig party, probably would not have allowed the annexation of Texas. 

            The annexation of Texas, the election of Polk as President, and the expansion into Oregon are three major events that helped along the Manifest Destiny of the United States.  If these events turned out in a different manner, the expansion throughout North America could have been stopped.

 

Chapter 17 Part 2

            Manifest Destiny caused President Polk and his fellow Americans to want to expand America.  Two of the places that the United States wanted to acquire were Texas and California.  By 1845, Texas was annexed to the United States, but Americans still wanted to obtain California.  Manifest Destiny was one of the leading causes of the Mexican War.  The United States desire to expand throughout North America moved Polk to fight Mexico for more land.  After the United States beat Mexico, they were able to obtain a huge amount of land. 

            Mexico refused to recognize Texas as being an independent nation.  Instead Mexico considered Texas to be merely a province in revolt.  However, Mexico threatened to begin a war if the United States interfered and assisted Texas.  In 1845, Texas was annexed to the United States.  This caused Mexico to become very angry at America; they believed that America had dishonored Mexico by taking Texas from them.  This event was one of the factors that caused the Mexican War.

            The borders of Texas then became the new issue between America and Mexico.  When the Spanish-Americans occupied Texas, the southwestern boundary of Texas was the Nueces River.  However Texas wanted their southern boundary to be the Rio Grande.  Mexico was not as concerned about this issue as the United States was.  Polk still made sure not to put American troops into the area between these two rivers. 

            Polk’s desire for California was another issue that was a causing factor to the Mexican War.  He wanted it to be America’s gateway to the Pacific Ocean.  It was also wanted for its lush valleys.  Polk’s longing for California was made greater by rumors that Britain wanted to buy or to take California.  This went against the Manifest Destiny of the United States.  Polk sent an envoy to Mexico to purchase California and the territory to the east for $25 million dollars.  Mexico refused this offer, further increasing the tensions felt between the United States and Mexico.

            Mexico owed three million dollars to the United States for helping after the Mexican revolution.  This money, along with the disputes over Texas and California, were the factors that caused the Mexican War.  Polk urged Congress to declare war on Mexico.  Congress agreed to when Mexican Troops harmed sixteen Americans under General Taylor’s command.

            After the Mexican War, the United States obtained Texas and the area stretching westward to Oregon for the price of fifteen million dollars.  To win this war, thirteen thousand Americans died.  With this loss came the gain of a huge amount of land that would equal one-third of the United States.

            The Manifest Destiny was the leading factor that caused the United States to declare war on Mexico.  When this destiny was threatened by the possibility of not obtaining California, Polk pushed for war.  Another factor of the Mexican War was the growing anger toward Mexico that was felt by Americans.  This anger came into being because of Mexico’s refusal to acknowledge Texas as being a part of the United States and Mexico’s refusal to allow Texas the borders that they desired.  In the end, the United States was able to obtain the land that they wanted.                

Expansion was inevitable because Americans have always been restless people, they never stop moving. Farmland was running out and Texas and Oregon seemed ripe for the picking. Many Americans that moved to Texas wanted to live under American law and stay settled there. Then the country was swept with “Oregon fever” after many missionaries went there. Settlers followed because they believed if the missionaries went, it was meant to be settled sooner than they’d expected and they stimulated interest in the area. There had also been previous exploration by Lewis and Clark. Expansion was also inevitable because America didn’t have much competition since Europeans didn’t want to violate the Monroe Doctrine.

The Democrats believed that Polk’s election was a “mandate” from the American people to take Texas because this was part of Polk’s campaign. He got Texas and after the Mexican War, paid for California. California was another place that Polk wanted. After all of Texas was won, Britain and America settled a dispute over the Oregon territory. But not all of it was acquired so extreme Manifest Destiny supporters in the Northwest joined with abolitionists in saying, all of Texas, why not all of Oregon? Others replied because Britain was strong and Mexico weak.

Some things that could have stopped expansion would have been Polk losing the election and Texans and missionaries not paving the way for everyone else. If “Polk the Purposeful” would have lost the election, someone who wasn’t as determined would have taken his place and the job probably wouldn’t have gotten done. He always achieved what he set out to do: he wanted Texas and California and he got them. Of course he had to provoke them and start the Mexican War to do this, but he achieved his end goal. Americans in Texas wanted to settle there, but they also wanted to live under American law. If they hadn’t become an independent state, then many of the reasons for the Mexican war would be nonexistent. And if missionaries hadn’t gone to Oregon then people still would have thought that God didn’t want that area to be settled for centuries. 

 

Part 2: What were the causes and consequences of the Mexican War?

          The causes of the Mexican War were Texas, California and Polk. There were boundary disputes in Texas- it’s southern border had always been the Neuces River, but Texans now claimed that it was the Rio Grande River instead. The area between the two became a no man’s land. Mexico thought the boundary dispute was irrelevant since they thought of Texas as a province that would soon return. At the same time Polk wanted to buy California from Mexico, but they were too proud to even hear the offer. Polk marched troops to the Rio Grande where a battle ensued when Mexican troops encountered American troops. Polk claimed that American blood had been shed on “American” soil. The country was outraged and Congress declared war.

          The consequences of the Mexican War were that lives were lost, Americans became more land-hungry, good relations with Latin American countries were lost and that the slavery issue was brought back. Most of the 13,000 American lives lost were because of disease. When America was increased by one-third, it grew stronger in it’s Manifest Destiny spirit. California and Texas had only wetted their appetite. After this war Latin American countries saw America as the “Colossus of the North.” They were probably glad when the land won from the Mexican War reawakened the slavery issue leading to the Civil War. Although many bad things resulted from the Mexican War, there were also many gains such as the territory, experience and respect won. America got a sizable amount of land and future Civil War officers got field experience. The war also proved that the Military Academy at West Point, the Navy and the Marine Corps were useful. It also showed the world that the U.S. was militarily strong. America also gained a new respect for Mexico because of their valiant fighting.