Harpal Chima 13A History
Was the Mexican War an Exercise in American Imperialism?
The US government believed firmly in the doctrine of Manifest destiny, the government argued that they had the right and duty to expand through North American because it was necessary and inevitable. During the 19th century Mexico dominated a large amount of North America which was inhabited by American settlers and the American government aimed to expand the USA from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and were ready to achieve this by any means.
The American government saw the lands of Texas and California as grand prizes with the opportunity of lush agricultural prospect and the possibility of a gateway to the Pacific Ocean. The lands though belonged to the nation of Mexico, which seen by the Americans was a backward nation and did not deserve to have the lands. President James Polk intended to use full extent of his power to expand America and he devoted his time during his reign as President in negotiations with Mexico over the lands of California. Yet Mexico refused to give away the land and yet it had such a weak economy and could use the money that President Polk was offering them to rebuild the economy and develop the nation. But the Mexican government still did not intend to sell the land because it would not be popular with the people if the nation shrink half in size and also because of the rivalry that was associated with Americans and Mexicans. So President Polk was left with no choice but to provoke the Mexicans to war, General Zachary Taylor was sent to a disputed region between Mexico and US with 4000 troops. Polk was anxious to start war but did not intend to initiate it because then he would be seen as an aggressor thus he waited till the Mexicans attacked the American troops then Congress had but no choice but to support Polk to fight Mexico. Polk was granted a $10 million budget and to raise an army of 50’000 troops, he had succeed in his plan and now wanted to secure California as soon as possible. He ordered a quick war and successive victories against the Mexicans at the Port of Matamoros, Buena Vista and Santa Fe in 1846 meant that by September 1847 within a year that the war started the Mexican capital fell into American hands. The treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo was quickly drawn up and Mexico lost Texas and California for a mere $15 million, which was seen as an extraordinary triumph for the Americans.