was the mexican american war unjustified
The question of whether the Mexican-American War was justified is subjective and can be debated from different perspectives.
From a Mexican perspective, the war can be seen as unjustified as it resulted in the loss of large territories, including California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming. These territories were acquired through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, which Mexico was forced to sign under duress. Many Mexicans consider this war as an act of aggression and an invasion of their sovereign territory.
From an American perspective, the war was justified based on the belief of Manifest Destiny, which held that the United States had a divine right to expand its territory from coast to coast. Americans argued that the annexation of Texas, which Mexico viewed as a rebellious territory, led to hostilities and that the United States had a right to defend its claimed territories.
There are also arguments that the underlying causes of the war, such as the disputed border between Mexico and Texas, economic disputes, and unresolved issues from the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, contributed to tensions that eventually led to armed conflict. These factors suggest that the war might have been avoided through diplomatic means.
Ultimately, whether the war was justified or not depends on one's perspective, values, and interpretation of historical events.