The most dramatic event in the history of relations between Mexico and the United States took place a century and a half ago. US historians refer to this event as "The Mexican War," while in Mexico we prefer to use the term "The U.S. Invasion."...
From Mexico's point of view, the annexation of Texas to the United States was inadmissible
for both legal and securty reasons. Thus, when the Mexican government learned of the treaty signed between Texas and the United States in April 1844. it ... would consider such an act
"a declaration of war."
An early 1846, on Polk's orders) the troops commanded by General Zachary Taylor arrived at the Río Grande, across from the city of Matamoros, thus occupying the territory in dispute and increasing the possibilities of a confrontation.... In the eyes of the (Mexican) government, the mobilization of the US army was an outright attack on Mexico.... As a consequence, the Mexican government reaffirmed the instruction to protect the border, meaning the territory located between the Río Grande and the Nueces River - an order which led to the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma....
.. (One article) in the daily El Tempo ... stated: "The American government acted like a bandit who came upon a traveler."
1. Whose point of view is held by the author of this document?
2. How did the Mexican government feel about the annexation of Texas by the United States?
3. According to the author, why did a Mexican force attack Zachary Taylor's troops when they
arrived at the Kio Grande River!
4. How does this document help answer the question: Was the United States justified in going
to war with Mexico
1. The author of this document holds the point of view of the Mexican government.
2. The Mexican government felt that the annexation of Texas by the United States was inadmissible for both legal and security reasons.
3. The Mexican force attacked Zachary Taylor's troops when they arrived at the Rio Grande River because the Mexican government considered the mobilization of the US army to be an outright attack on Mexico.
4. This document helps answer the question by showing that the Mexican government felt that the US was not justified in going to war with Mexico, as they considered the US mobilization of troops to be an attack on Mexico.