Mexican-American War

Definition

The Mexican-American War was a conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848, driven largely by the U.S. desire for territorial expansion and the concept of Manifest Destiny. The war resulted in significant territorial losses for Mexico and laid the groundwork for ongoing tensions between Mexicans and Americans, shaping the identity and experiences of Mexican-Americans.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The war was sparked by disputes over Texas, which had declared independence from Mexico in 1836 and was annexed by the U.S. in 1845.
2. The conflict resulted in significant battles such as the Battle of Palo Alto and the capture of Mexico City by U.S. forces.
3. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo resulted in the U.S. acquiring present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and parts of Colorado and New Mexico.
4. Approximately 13,000 U.S. soldiers died during the war, with many casualties due to disease rather than combat.
5. The war intensified debates over slavery in newly acquired territories, contributing to sectional tensions that led to the Civil War.

Review Questions

• How did the concept of Manifest Destiny influence American attitudes toward the Mexican-American War?
  • Manifest Destiny played a crucial role in shaping American attitudes toward the Mexican-American War by promoting the belief that it was America's divine right to expand its territory across North America. This ideology justified aggressive expansionist policies and fueled support for military actions against Mexico. As a result, many Americans viewed the war as a necessary step toward fulfilling their perceived destiny, which contributed to a sense of national pride but also set the stage for future conflicts over land and cultural identity.
• Discuss the implications of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo on Mexican-Americans living in newly acquired territories.
  • The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo significantly impacted Mexican-Americans living in territories ceded to the United States. While it granted U.S. citizenship rights to those who remained in these areas, many faced discrimination and legal challenges that undermined their rights. The treaty's promises were often not upheld, leading to land loss and cultural marginalization for Mexican-Americans, which further complicated their identity within a new national framework that often viewed them as outsiders.
• Evaluate how the outcomes of the Mexican-American War contributed to ongoing tensions between Mexicans and Americans in subsequent decades.
  • The outcomes of the Mexican-American War laid a foundation for ongoing tensions between Mexicans and Americans due to unresolved issues surrounding land rights, racial discrimination, and cultural identity. As Mexican territories became integrated into the United States, many Mexican-Americans faced systemic inequities and exclusion from full participation in society. These tensions were exacerbated by laws that favored Anglo settlers over native populations and continued into later conflicts such as the Zoot Suit Riots during World War II, highlighting a cycle of conflict rooted in historical grievances stemming from the war.

Related terms

Manifest Destiny: A 19th-century doctrine that the expansion of the United States throughout the American continents was both justified and inevitable.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo: The treaty that ended the Mexican-American War, signed on February 2, 1848, which ceded a large portion of Mexico's northern territories to the United States.

Cession: The act of giving up territory, particularly in reference to land transferred from Mexico to the United States as a result of the Mexican-American War.