The Mexican-American War
On May 9th, 1846 President James K. Polk delivered a war message to Congress, stating that "Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory, and shed American blood upon the American soil." Four days later, Congress declared war against Mexico, and across the nation large shows of support for the action followed. So began the Mexican-American War that resulted in acquiring of lands that today make up the American southwest; the states of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming.Many attempts have been made to rationalize the war as just and right. Polk claimed that the United States had been provoked into war by Mexico, and that what motivated him to go to war was, "the strong desire to establish peace with Mexico on liberal and honorable terms . . ." Pulitzer prize winner Justin H. Smith claimed that Mexico was simply unable to understand or appreciate the goodwill and righteousness of her northern neighbor. These and other rational for the Mexican war are simply cover-ups for the truth. The Mexican-American War was a premeditated act of aggression on the part of the U.S. government
The United States also enjoyed an overwhelming military advantage. Mexican soldiers were inadequately trained and supplied. Many were volunteers, some still teenagers. Others were natives who didn't even speak Spanish, but nonetheless were forced by the Mexican government to fight. They were also poorly and meagerly supplied. American guns could reach nearly three times as far. They lacked a large quantity of cannons with which to wage war. Also, the Mexican capital, Mexico City, the nation's capital was far away, and communication was difficult between the capital and armies on the frontier. Mexico was placed at an overwhelming military disadvantage. Mexico also lacked population enough to mount an effective war effort. Mexico was not too far removed from it's war for independence from Spain, which had depleted its population supply. Americans greatly outnumbered Mexicans in Texas and North America. The Unites States had a population of 17 million whites and 3 million slaves, considerably larger than Mexico's total population of 7 million, 4 million of whom were natives with no allegiance to the Mexican government. The vast territory and relatively small population made it difficult to control Mexican possessions, with people spread thinly throughout Mexican lands. Without a solid population base, waging a war against an industrial power would be very difficult.
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Approximate Word count = 1396
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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