Manifest Destiny
In these readings, these historians explore how 19th century Americans defined themselves as a people and as a nation, and how they understood westward expansion, particularly the War with Mexico. The 1840s were years of extraordinary territorial growth for the United State. National domain increased by 1.2 million square miles. Whig party leaders vigorously opposed territorial growth and expansionist Democrats argued. The growth of territorial was at risk of war with other nations. Contiguous land would voluntary join the U.S because they wanted obtain republican benefits. “Regions would ripen like fruit and fall into the lap of the United States.” In the 19th century many Americans dismissed the idea of transcontinental republic. The conquered by technological innovations and steamboats 1840s turned America's waterways in busy commercial. Also railroads integrated eastern markets with towns and cities of western.Mid 1840s Great Britain rumored to be plotting with Mexico to block Washington’s efforts to annex the Texas republic and scheming to acquire California.
Thomas Jefferson viewed an abundance land as mainstay of prosperous republic. Tide of immigrants from Germany and Ireland. Southerners anxious to enlarge the slave empire. New slave states would enhance the South’s political. Washington policy makers, anxious to compete with Great Britain for the Asia trade.1837 disastrous panic resulted in huge surpluses and depressed prices of American farm products. Great Britain's claim to the Pacific Northwest and its close relationship with Mexico. Matters of great concern to American interests. Great Britain viewed United States’ only rival for control Pacific coastline. Great Britain had abolished slavery in its West Indies colonial possessions in 1833. Democrat James K. Polk convinced the only way to deal with “John Bull.” British activities in western hemisphere and national agenda in the years prior to the outbreak of civil war. The desire for Canada in period between the American war for independence and war of 1812.
Polk considered extending US sovereignty over the Yucatan peninsula and Cuba. Louisiana purchase and United States support for a Texas independence and annexation. Attitude of Europeans and others observers was one not fear of United States. People poised in the way of that expansion, were aware of this, especially the Mexicans. In class we discussed “How did United States took over from California all the way to Texas?” Mexicans were torn between two conflicting attitudes about U.S. Attitude of fear that Americans would try to detach border territories from Mexico’s lands. After the war between Mexico and United States had one sided view of Mexican war. But it was not Mexico versus the U.S but within the United States there was a division of opinion a minority opposed to the war. The profound differences in U.S’s future shape in our wealth within the discovery of gold in California. Mexico lost the rich potential of California and it's amazing gold mines, agricultural and water resources. When the war was ended there were close to 75,000 Mexicans living in the conquered territory from California to Texas.
Many of Mexicans loss their own land they become foreigners in their native land. “From the 75,000 Mexicans living in the conquered territory from California to Texas how many Mexicans did they stayed?” Since they had the choice of either going back to Mexico or staying in the U.S. And if they stayed, they could choose Mexican or United States citizenship.