Manifest Destiny and the Mexican-American War

 

ANNEXATION OF TEXAS STARTS THE WAR

Mexico saw the annexation of Texas as having taken away Mexican land, having not recognized Texas as independent, and Polk believed he could bully Mexico with his power; this tension caused the War.

"The Mexican-American War resulted from U.S. impatience and aggressiveness and Mexican weakness"
-Contemporary historian George C. Herring (139)

1845: Texas was annexed, with controversy
-"Mexico could be bullied into submission or, if foolish enough to fight, easily defeated" (Herring 198).


-Polk expected little retaliation from Mexicans, however, Mexico retaliated more than expected
-Large strip of disputed territory between Texas and Mexico

-President Polk believed the land until Rio Grande was American


-Polk sent emissaries to Mexico; verbally clashed in Mexico

-Thornton Affair: a patrol of American soldiers in disputed territory was attacked upon.
Polk propagated war in Congress.
Picture
This map of shows Texas' land, which was annexed by the US in 1845.

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