CONTEXT: The Ending of the Mexican-American War, 1846-1848
GUIDING QUESTIONS:
- Why did some Americans support war with Mexico, while others opposed it?
- To what extent did this treaty affect Mexican culture and politics; even more than American?
- The Impact of Expansion on:
- Native American culture
- The Spread of Slavery
- James Polk, Democrat, was President
- He pushed for American territorial expansion
- American troops occupied present-day New Mexico and California and invaded parts of Northern Mexico
- Anti-slavery Whigs opposed the war; heavy casualties and high cost of war
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete#1) Why did some Americans support war with Mexico, while others opposed it?
ReplyDeleteSome believed that the US had spent enough, "blood and treasure" on this war. Also it was looked at a war of aggression and greed on behalf of the US, specifically President Polk, because we really had no reason to start war with Mexico in the first place. Our only intention with the war was to gain land and territory. And the repercussions of this greed was many lives lost. Abolitionists also voiced their opinions against this division of Mexico.
People supported the war reasoning that we'd be gaining land and resources such as minerals. All this was reinforced by manifest destiny and the boost in patriotism it provided.
#2) To what extend did this treaty affect Mexican culture and politics; even more than American?
The Mexican-American war was not a fair fight. The Americans had a huge advantage on many levels. Therefore, we went fairly unfazed during this war. In addition, the fight seemed even more distant for us because it took place in the unsettled southwest. It was in a far off land for Americans, making them even less affected.
While the Mexicans definitely felt the affects of a defeat by Americans. Mexicans lost more than 500,000 sq miles of land and many lives to an unfair fight. This defeat was a huge blow to the Mexican Government and is said to have, "ensured that Mexico would remain an underdeveloped country well into the twentieth century." While in their politics the decision to sign this treated divided them. Some politicians wanted to continue while others wanted to give in to the dominant power that was the United States. Many young people did not enjoy this decision, as well. They began a reform movement in order to strengthen the government to ensure they would not be taken advantage of ever again. This movement continues in Mexico, to this day. Overall, there is no doubt that Mexico experience much more extreme repercussions as opposed to the United States who left the war with no scratches and all the glory.
a quick thought in response: while i agree with your analysis of the unfair fight and terms of this war, i think the serious scratch that the united states experienced was the continued bloody battle over slavery; which fueled the american obsession for expansion and led in a nation almost destroying itself. check out the latest post.
ReplyDelete