To fully understand the entire Mexican War, it is important to understand the concept of Manifest Destiny. Manifest Destiny was a term coined by John L. O'Sullivan in 1845. This term was “the last justification for white settlers to take the land they coveted” (370). He “called upon them to resist any foreign power – British, French, or Mexican – which attempted to obstruct 'the fulfillment of our manifest destiny to extend the continent assigned by Providence for the free development of our annually multiplying millions. .'” (370 ). This new term almost instantly overwhelmed the United States and provided it with justification to obtain new lands and territories in the West, something Americans believed was a “God-given right” based on the “superiority of their institutions and white culture.” ” (370). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay This idea of ​​manifest destiny eventually led to the Mexican War. The Americans wanted to expand their territory to the west. Texas, which had recently gained independence from Mexico, was an interesting prospect. However, it was disturbing to the North that this would add another slave state. Democrats, in an attempt to please Northerners, proposed expansion into Oregon as a free state, which would parallel Texas being a slave state. “In 1818 the United States and Great Britain agreed upon a “joint occupation” which would leave Oregon “free and open” to settlement by both countries” (371), but politicians now called for a “reoccupation of 'Oregon” (378) . This posed a threat to Britain, potentially causing another war, but Manifest Destiny prevailed. Polk renewed an offer with Great Britain, which was approved by the Senate, peacefully giving the nation the territory. Along with the issue of annexing Texas, there was a major border dispute. The Mexicans believed the border was the Nueces River, while Texas said it was along the Rio Grande. Placing and moving an army along these borders only added to Mexico's frustrations. Manifest Destiny also led Polk to seek interest in California and New Mexico. Originally intending to purchase these territories, Polk decided that military force would ultimately be necessary to obtain these new territories. This only added fuel to the already worsening fire. Overall, the primary cause of the Mexican War was the idea of ​​Manifest Destiny because it caused Polk to seek the annexation of Texas, along with the ensuing border disputes, and potentially purchase the Mexican territories of California and New Mexico. In his inaugural address on May 11, 1846, he discussed the annexation of Texas, his military moves, and ultimately the logic behind his decisions: manifest destiny. “Foreign powers should therefore view the annexation of Texas to the United States not as the conquest of a nation seeking to extend its dominions through arms and violence, but as the peaceful acquisition of territory once its own, adding another member to our confederation, with the consent of that member, thus lessening the chances of war and opening to them new and ever-increasing markets for their products” (Polk, Inaugural Address). Because Polk was so driven by the ideal of Manifest Destiny, he sought to reclaim Mexico's remaining northern provinces, California and New Mexico, which only added further tensions and frustrations between Mexico and the UnitedUnited. He initially tried to purchase the territories from Mexico, but the Mexicans refused to sell them. He was very aware of the turmoil that was happening, which gave him a glimmer of hope. “By the 1830s, Comanche, Kiowa, Apache, and others had attacked Mexican ranches and towns, killing thousands” (378). Polk and his administration were aware of this fact and deduced that Mexico could no longer control its northern territories. For them, this meant that Mexico reduced its claims to these territories. Combining these facts with Polk's need to realize manifest destiny led him to deduce that military force would be necessary to reach the territories he desired. One of the causes of the Mexican War was the annexation of Texas. According to Polk in his inaugural address, "...The Republic of Texas has made known its desire to enter into our Union, to be a part of our Confederacy, and to enjoy with us the blessings of liberty secured and guaranteed by our Constitution" (Polk , Inaugural speech). Regardless, Mexico has warned that it will view the annexation of Texas as an act of war. “The annexation of Texas to the United States risked precipitating the war, since Mexico had never relinquished its lost claim” (377). In addition to the problems caused by the annexation of Texas, there were border disputes between the United States and Mexico. “The Congress of Texas, by its law of December 19, 1836, had declared the Rio del Norte as the boundary of that Republic. Its jurisdiction had been extended and exercised beyond the Nueces. The country between that river and the Del Norte had been represented in Congress and at the Texas convention, had therefore taken part in the very act of annexation, and is now included in one of our congressional districts” (Polk, War Message) . The United States, along with the Republic of Texas, considered the banks of the Rio Grande to be the southernmost border. Mexico, on the other hand, was under the impression that the Nueces River was the separating border. “Polk had already ordered General Zachary Taylor to march his 4,000-man army 150 miles south from his position on the Nueces River” (378). This movement was seen by Mexico as an act of aggression. To take revenge, the Mexican general of Matamoros retreated to the Nueces, and when he refused, the Mexicans attacked on April 25, 1846. They then killed and wounded 16 men and captured the rest. Polk justified the Mexican War by claiming that Mexicans started it. Initially he had peaceful intentions. "The movement of troops to Del Norte was effected by the commanding general with positive instructions to refrain from any aggressive acts toward Mexico or Mexican citizens and to consider relations between that Republic and the United States peaceful unless they declared war or commit acts of hostility indicative of a state of war...” (Polk, War Message) In his war message to Congress, Polk states that the aforementioned troop movement was in fact peaceful. He did not intend to engage in aggressive acts against of the Mexican army nor its citizens. The Mexican army did not see the movement as peaceful and responded by killing and wounding 16 men and capturing the rest. Polk declared war United, he has invaded our territory and shed American blood on American soil'” (378). of duty and patriotism to resolutely vindicate the honor, rights and interests of our country..." (Polk, War Message). OnThere is much controversy about this because "even before news of the battle reached Washington, Polk had gotten his cabinet to approve a war message" (378). It appears that Polk wanted war regardless, because he had previously had permission from his cabinet to declare war. It appears that Mexico's retaliation was just an excuse for Polk to declare war. Abraham Lincoln, at the time, a Whig representative from Illinois, gave a speech to Congress regarding the issues he saw in Polk's argument and justification of the war. “Before Abraham Lincoln took his seat, he had questioned Polksanity's intelligence, honesty, and personality” (379). In his speech, he then deciphered every part of the president's arguments for war, and explained why they are inadequate or unsupported arguments. “The main deception is that it is assumed as true that one river or the other is necessarily the boundary; and completely deceives the superficial thinker from the idea, that perhaps the boundary is somewhere between the two rivers, and really not in either... 1-- That the Rio Grande was the western boundary of Louisiana when the we purchased from France in 1803... Now, admitting for the moment, that the Rio Grande, was the border of Louisiana, what, under heaven, did it have to do with the present border between us and Mexico? ... 2 That the Republic of Texas has always claimed the Rio Grande, as its western border-- ...This is not true, in fact-- Texas has claimed it, but has not always claimed it-- ...But suppose you have always claimed it-- Mexico has not always asserted the opposite... 3 That by various acts, it had affirmed it on paper-- ... I mean here what it says regarding the fixing of the Rio Grande as its border in its old constitution (not in its state constitution) on the formation of congressional districts, counties, etc., etc.-- Now all this is nothing but a bare statement... 4-- That Santa Anna,3 in his treaty with Texas, recognized the Rio Grande , as its border-- that Santa Anna, while a prisoner of war, a prisoner, could not bind Mexico by treaty... 5 - That Texas before, and the United States after, the annexation had exercised jurisdiction over the Nueces - between the two rivers -... He tells us he went beyond the Nueces; but it does not tell us that it went to the Rio Grande-- It tells us that jurisdiction was exercised between the two rivers, but it does not tell us that it was exercised over all the territory between them... 6 That our Congress, including the the border of Texas will extend beyond the Nueces... the Congress of the United States, understood that the state of Texas which they admitted into the union extended beyond the Nueces... Well, I suppose they did... I certainly understand it that way ... - But how much further” (Lincoln, Speech to Congress)? Lincoln took each of Polk's original arguments for war and evaluated their accuracy and justifiable thinking. The president declared war based on unrelated, unclear, and illegitimate evidence. After examining them all, it is clear that Lincoln believed the war was unnecessary and unprovoked. After the brutal fighting in the capital, Mexico City, a solution was found. On February 2, 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed. This treaty was responsible for creating the Rio Grande, and not the Nueces River, as the border separating the United States from Mexico. Also under this treaty, Mexico renounced all claims to Texas and now recognized the annexation of Texas. Mexico also agreed to sell more than 500,000 miles of land, including California, New Mexico and the rest of its territory north of the Rio Grande, for $15 million. Furthermore, the United States does.