US War Internet Research Assignment Paper (Essay Sample)

Student’s Name:
Professor’s Name:
Course:
Date:
US War Internet Assignment
The Mexican-American War was an armed conflict between United States of America and Mexico that lasted from 1846 to 1848. This war followed the US annexation of Texas in 1845, which Mexico had considered as part of its own territory. It was the war that shaped the history of both countries.
Prelude to War
There were two basic causes of the Mexican-American War. First, the ambitions of the US to enlarge its territory from the entire continent of North America to the Pacific Ocean was provoking conflicts with its neighbors. After being elected in 1845, President Polk brought up an idea known as “Manifest Destiny,” which consisted in a belief that the United States had a right given by God for it to civilize and occupy the entire continent. The Americans ignored the fact that most of these areas were already inhabited by people and were the democratic English-speaking America had an attitude that they would run things better than the Native Americans. However, it should be noted that “Manifest Destiny” did not call for violent expansion, and the United States had offered to purchase California from Mexico, which was half of its country, in 1835 and 1845 for $5 million and $25 million respectively, but the Mexican government declined these offers.
The other basic cause of this war was the Independence War of Texas and state’s annexation by the US Due to a revolt in 1835, Santa Anna, the Mexican President, was forced to sign the Velasco Treaty in 1836, which gave Texas its independence. This angered many Mexicans who refused to accept this document’s legality. Due to the continued fights between the Republic of Texas and Mexico, many US citizens openly sympathized with the Texans born in the US. Also, the Americans had developed a negative stereotypes towards the Mexicans. Eventually, on July 4, 1845, the US Congress approved the annexation due to the continued hostilities with Mexico, where Texas decided to join the United States.
The War (1846-1848)
When the hostilities began, the US military wanted to force an early peace. Therefore, it turned to a three-pronged tactic that was designed to gain control of the entire north of Mexico. Two armies from Texas travelled to the south, while a third force traveled to Sante Fe in the west, to New Mexico and finally to California. Around July and August 1846, Monterey and Los Angeles were seized by the United States Navy. After the capture of the city of Monterrey by the Americans, there was a temporary truce that enabled the two armies to recover. Santa Anna, a former President, took this opportunity and returned to Mexico from exile, raised a new army of more than 20,000 men to oppose the invasion. The Mexican government declined to make peace despite defeat in several major battles and loss of huge tracts of land. It was now clear to Polk’s administration that only a battlefield victory would end this war.
The role of the media cannot be underestimated. Information was disseminated to US citizens at a very fast rate considering the fact that devices like the telegraph had been invented and the emergence of US newspaper industry. "Occupation newspapers" were established in Mexico by some US printers and this aided in providing important information to the troops and the general public. At the same time, in Mexico, political movements were aligned with newspapers which either opposed or supported the war depending on their alliances. Public opinion was also shaped during the course of the war whereby; there was balance of power in the Mexican press as the government changed hands.
Battles that are considered to be the most important of this campaign include: The Cerro Gordo battle (April 18); Contreras battle (August 20); Churubusco battle (August 20); Molino Del Rey battle (September 8); and the Chapultepec battle (September 13).
The Treaty of Guadeloupe Hidalgo was signed on February 2, 1848 which was later ratified by the Mexican and US Congresses. This treaty was supporting the idea of annexation of portions of Mexico in the north to the US and Mexico was paid $15 million in return as compensation for this seized territory. Indeed, America had defeated its somewhat disorganized and weaker southern neighbor after paying a terrible price. The war cost the US more than $100 million also ending 13,780 lives of military personnel.
The Aftermath of War
It ...