Compare And Contrast War And The Shock Doctrine

During the period spanning from 1800 to 1855, there were many arguments made in the ever-present debate regarding the possibility of the territorial expansion of the United States. The two arguments, pro-expansion and anti-expansion, were seen in debates over the Louisiana Purchase, the War of 1812, the removal of Indians from their territories, possible trade routes through expansion, and the Mexican-American War. These arguments made in the debate are seen in documents A, B, C, D, F, G, H, and I. The documents not only show the opinions of the people, but also the effect they had on the government. Pro-expansion sentiments were shown through debates concerning the War of 1812, the removal of Indians from their villages, possible

During Polk’s regime, the ambitious, new leader focused on adding the Oregon country, taking California along with New Mexico from Mexico, and cutting taxes. By the time Polk had been inaugurated, Texas had already fallen into American hands; therefore, Polk prioritized the securement of the Oregon Territory. Polk was playing a dangerous game; if he tried to take the territory from Britain, war would be inevitable and many lives would be unnecessarily cost. Being the daunting character he was, Polk did not back down from a fight. However, his attention was divided because Mexican relations with the U.S. were degrading.

a. The War with Mexico i. Polk wants control over ALL of Mexico, between Texas and Pacific Ocean- willing to go to war ii. Texas Republic accepted statehood in 1845=1845 Mexico broke off diplomatic relations with the US iii. Polk intimated Mexican Gov- Zachary Taylor occupy all the lands in the Nucese River and Rio Grande iv. Sent John Slidell to Mexico city- to secure Mexican acceptance of the Rio Grande boundary and to buy Mexico and CA- officials did not see him v. Alternate plan was to start a CA revolution (like Texas) to get independence and join the US vi. Polk ordered naval commanders to seize CA 's coastal towns (in case of war) and sent John C Fremont 's troops into Mexico vii.

In this article Chandler addressed a widely glorified view of the manifest destiny spread by common textbooks in circulation in the United States. Chandler describes how this propaganda like belief as such, “One’s opinion about this central aspect of American mythology depends heavily on one’s point of view”(Chandler 153). This statement illuminates the factual idea that the manifest destiny, like so many other american historical events, is told from one perspective, which leaves a huge portion of american history untold. Later on, Chandler narrows in on the idea that the commonly held view on the manifest destiny leaves out the impact this westward expansion had on the “original inhabitants of North America, as well as its ramifications today”(Chandler

This included the negotiation of the Oregon Treaty with Great Britain in 1846, and the conclusion of the Mexican-American War in 1848. This war ended with the ratification of the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo in 1848 being

In this letter Clay states that it is clear that Mexico has still not departed from Texas (Clay.) In Clay’s opinion acquiring Texas means acquiring the war between Mexico and Texas. He challenges congress to think about the consequences of annexation (Clay.) He states that “annexation of Texas is war with Mexico…” to make the point that annexation is a delegation of war (Clay.) Henry Clay a respected man made the point that many Americans a simple reality.

With Polk’s narrow victory, the Democrats immediately called to admit Texas as a state, but was only successful by using a joint resolution,which included admitting Oregon as a state to satisfy Northern expansionist desires and balancing the number of slave-owning and free soil states. Not satisfied with these states alone, Polk turned to Mexico’s northern provinces (such as California and New Mexico) and endeavored to start a revolution in California. Polk’s audacious move to incite a revolution in California--done by sending Thomas Oliver Larkin to influence famous Californios to seek independence, seizing San Francisco Bay, and employing John Slidell to try to buy California--was met with greater tensions between the U.S. and Mexico for a war. These acts led to Polk utilizing more aggressive tactics to expand U.S. territory; Polk sent General Zachary Taylor to occupy disputed territory and “provoke a fight” (Pg. 419 Henretta), and the war concluded with American triumph. The war had started with patriotic expansionism, but soon divided the nation: the Whigs, who were against the war and did not support “this wretched cant about a ‘manifest destiny’”

How did California, The Golden State, become a part of the United States of America? The answer lies in the Mexican-American War. This controversial war was fought in 1846 under the presidency of James K. Polk, a strong believer in Manifest Destiny. It took place after the annexation of Texas and was a result of a dispute over land between the Nueces River and Rio Grande. The Mexican-American War was unjustified for three reasons, for one; Polk intentionally instigates the war with Mexico, secondly; the U.S. only wanted Mexican land to expand their own, and finally; in order to obtain this land, America violates Mexican laws.

In 1846 The Mexican-American War began lasting till 1848. The United States acquisitive need for more land was their only motive for starting a war with Mexico. The United States started an unjustified war with the newly independent country just more territory. Polk stated that “The Mexican Government not only refused to receive him [the U.S. envoy] or listen to his propositions, but after a long-continued series of menaces have at last invaded our territory and shed the blood of our fellow-citizens on our own soil.

America eventually captured Mexico City in September 1847. The Treaty of Guadalupe – Hidalgo was signed on February 2nd, 1848. It ended the Mexican – American war and started the Mexican cession. It also recognized Texas as a U.S. state.

Polk and corresponding political course of his administration. But the author does not assert that it was solely Polk’s desires. Rather Polk is portrayed as an initiative follower of Thomas Jefferson’s and Andrew Jackson’s ideas about American expansion. The belief in potency of a new undeveloped land became the characteristic of that time. “By 1840s, territorial expansion was viewed by many to be a measure of that [America’s] greatness”.

The Mexican-American War The contentious Mexican-American War is a topic that is frequently discussed and debated. Was America's decision to go to war with Mexico justified? The Mexican-American War, which occurred from April 1846 to February 1848, was a clash between the United States and Mexico. It resulted in the U.S. obtaining more than 500,000 square miles (1,300,000 square km) of Mexican land spanning westward from the Rio Grande to the Pacific Ocean.

The Mexican-American war brought a sense of accomplishment as negotiations began after America's victory. Between 1846 and 1848, America and Mexico frequently clashed. The Mexican-American war, also known as the U.S. invasion in Mexico, demonstrated the power and the want for more land from the other side. Though the land belonged to Mexico, this land dispute needed to be sorted out to address the much-wanted expansion of the U.S. The eventual end to the war soon gave the U.S. the land of the west coast.

The Mexican-American war altered the United States environmentally, culturally and politically. First, on February 2, 1848, Mexico signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo two years post the beginning of the war. The treaty not only achieved President Polk’s goal to achieve California from Mexico but also granted the U.S. over 500,000 square miles of new territory. The new land caused approximately 90,000 spanish speaking, mostly Catholic Mexicans under American jurisdiction. Second, Nativism, a rising anti-catholic and anti-immigrant deemed the Mexicans inferior.

INTRODUCTION Throughout the 1840s and 1850s a major war happened called the Mexican American War which drastically changed the U.S. and Mexico and lead to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo to be signed and which established the Rio Grande and not the Nueces River as the U.S Border. This also lead to the U.S. annexation of Texas and lead to the Mexico agreeing to sell California and the rest of the territory for 15 million. So you 're probably wondering why the war was fought but you 'll find that out later.