Battle of San Jacinto The battle of San Jacinto was a major turning point in Texas history because Santa Anna’s defeat ended the Texas Revolution, Texas gained its independence form Mexico, and it later led to the annexation of Texas to the United States. In early 1835, Mexican president Santa Anna began centralizing power and operating as a dictatorship that is why Texas wanted to gain its independence from Mexico because Texas wanted more freedom, they wanted to be there own state that is why Texans had to defeat Santa Anna in order to become and independent state and to have freedom. That is how the Texas Revolution began Texas did not want to be under the control of a dictator that is why many battles were fought during the Texas Revolution which led to the last battle of the Texas Revolution which was known as the Battle of San Jacinto. Since the Battle of San Jacinto was the last battle the only remaining Texan troops were retreating with Sam Houston, then after learning that Santa Anna had divided his forces Houston got and idea. He thought it was the right time to attack and defeat Santa Anna because the Mexican troops did not expect it.
The boundary between Mexico and Texas was undecided, however Mexico said it was the Nueces River and the U.S said it was Rio Grande. At this point it was clear that the United Stated was provoking the Mexican army into fighting. As Polk’s Army entered Mexican territory they were attacked and 16 were killed. (Background Essay) President Polk used this as an excuse to persuade Congress to declare war against Mexico. However, according to Jesus Velasco-Marquez, in the eyes of Mexicans, the American troops were trespassing and therefore the Mexican government was bound to protect their borders.
A). In April of 1846, President James K. Polk had an idea to expand the U.S from coast to coast and after Mexico denied selling land to Polk because they had Texas, Polk declared war on Mexico because they were weaker and would give more land. As a result of the Mexican War, the U.S acquired a lot of land. This acquisition of new land soon posed as a problem regarding slavery. The United States government did not know if slaves should or should not be allowed in the new land.
Texas argues that the Mexican General Santa Anna made late changes in the government and overturned the constitution that both states originally had agreed upon. His changes included forcing citizens to “either abandon their homes or submit to the most intolerable of all tyranny.” (117) In order to stop the Mexican government from taking away all the sacred rights of citizens, Texas petitioned for the establishment of a separate state government, but got rejected. In Texas’s argument for independence, Texas shares some of the actions performed by the Mexican Nation. The following is an example, “it has invaded our country both my sea and by land, with the intent to lay waste on our territory, and drive us from our homes; and has now a large mercenary army advancing, to carry on against us a war of extermination.” (118) On the other side of the argument, Mexico replies to Texas’s declaration of independence by stating that the “Texans were invited and admitted subject to the observance of a contract by which assurances were given to maintain one written constitution; but once this was annulled, all their obligations ceased.” (119) I feel the Texas Declaration of Independence provides the most convincing arguments
Manifest Destiny was the belief widely held by Americans in the 19th century that the United States was destined to expand across the continent. Manifest destiny provided the dogma and tone for the largest acquisition of U.S. territory. It was used by Democrats in the 1840s to justify the war with Mexico and it was also used to acquire portions of Oregon from the British Empire. But Manifest Destiny always limped along because of its internal limitations and the issue of slavery, says Merk, and never became a national priority. By 1843 John Quincy Adams, a major supporter, had changed his mind and repudiated Manifest Destiny because it meant the expansion of slavery in Texas.
Then I will tell you in depth what the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo protects. Finally I will tell you the affects it had on the Mexican people. Manifest Destiny drove the United States Imperialism to expand their empire no matter the cost or who stood in the way. The Annexation of Texas lead to a deeper conflict when the boarder was established at the Rio Nueces. Mexico was a new Fragile Nation State that lacked resources, technology and a stable central government, according to the history book Occupied America.
” After repeated menaces, Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon the American soil…” This is a quote from chapter one, also it’s a war message that wrote by President Polk. This has already explained that the invading from Mexico is one of the reasons for staring the war. Also, manifest destiny is another important reason for the war. President Polk wanted to expand the boundary of Untied States. He vowed to bring California under the United States control.
The treaty was mostly USA-centered and was forced on the interim military authorities of Mexico. Guadalupe Hidalgo is a metropolis north of Mexico City from where Mexican forces had taken off from the advancing US military. The signatories to the treaty were Nichols P. Trist representing the USA and Luis G. Cuevas, Miguel Atristain and Bernardo Couto for the fallen Mexican government. Trist dismissed a recall order form Washington and discussed the accord in contravention of majority of his directions. The United sates Senate thus reluctantly sanctioned the accord (Richard, 1992, p.12) Texas came into the USA alleging Rio Grande as her western and southern borders.
Mexican-American War is a big event in the 19th century, in which the concept of Manifest Destiny was related with war. The Mexican-American War was not only for increased territory, but also a symbol of America's racial misunderstanding. Some White people have the superiority with themselves. [1] They took Mexican people’s land as Manifest Destiny, above all moral and law. Many Americans believe that God give them the power and duty to expand territory, strengthen the United States.
Political issue was one of the main causes of the Civil War. The Kansas-Nebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise in 1854, which proposed that the Nebraska territory be divided into the Kansas territory and Nebraska territory and that the settlers there ruled with popular sovereignty (Doc.7). Dred Scott sued for his freedom, since he argued his residency on a free soil land made him a free citizen. The court decided against him because slaves are property and had no right to sue (Doc.9). Another cause of the civil war was the actions of John Brown, who attacked on the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia.