Us - Mexican War

The Mexican War led to many different feelings in the United States. It split an even larger gap between the Democrats and the Whigs and incited many arguments between both groups. The main thing that provoked this was the annexation of Texas.

President James Polk claimed that no other power similarly situated would have refused the annexation of Texas, which I believe to be true. England annexed both Ireland and Scotland for their nation, Great Britain. It was only a matter of time before the U.S. moved further westward and seized Texas. The annex was not unconstitutional though. It does not say anywhere in the constitution that one shall not annex territory to become a new state. Yes, this did lead to war, but nothing in the constitution says anything against annexing a state.

The Democrats believed that the Mexicans were the cause of the war while the Whigs believed otherwise. As Polk said in 1846 “…after reiterated menaces, Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory, and shed American blood upon American soil. She has proclaimed that hostilities have commenced, and that the two nations are now at war.” This incited many unpleasant feelings towards Mexico from many Americans. However, there was a dispute where the Texas boarder actually was betweens Texans and Mexicans. Texans believed the boarder was the Rio Grande when it was really at the Corpus Christi. In 1847 “General Taylor was directed by the President of the United States, to occupy the east bank of the Rio Grande, being the extreme western part of the territory claimed by Texas, the boundaries of which had been designated as an “open question” to be determined by “negotiation”. General Taylor broke up his quarters at Corpus Christi on the 11th March, and, proceeding across this disputed territory, established his post, and erected a battery, directly opposite the Mexican city of Matamoros, and, under his directions, the mouth of the Rio Grande was...