Mexican-American War Portfolio
Open up all attachments at the bottom before you go any further.
For this portfolio project, you will use sources to determine an answer for the following question: Was the Mexican-American War justified? Your product should be an essay or a slide show presentation. This will be due in unit 6 lesson 7. There is a dropbox in the lesson.
Essay Option: Use sample outline provided. You must use a minimum of 2 or 3 sources to write this and cite those sources. Essay should be 2 full pages double spaced and multi-paragraph. 12 point font, no gaps, no big title. Standard margins. (citation should be in-text and a works cited page). Keep reading all the directions.
As a side option to the essay, you may write this in "speech" format, pretending to be President of the United States James Polk, but you must follow all the above mentioned requirements. Keep reading all the directions.
Slide Show Option: 6 cited informational slides, with 2-3 cited pictures total woven in the presentation or on their own slide and 1 works cited slide. (citation should be in-text and a works cited page). You must use a minimum of 2 or 3 sources to write this and cite those sources. Each of the 6 informational slides needs a minimum of a paragraph of writing on it. Keep reading all the directions.
Research paper until the last paragraph. Then present an answer to the question "was the war justified?". You can even present this answer from both the perspective of the Mexicans and the Americans.
Assume the reader does not know anything. It's your job to inform the reader.
A paragraph is 3-5 sentences.
Follow this format to type your paragraphs:
Your name, Title, Introduction paragraph. Present the history of the war: before, during, and after, in multiple paragraphs that mention Texas independence from Mexico, Texas becoming a state, Manifest Destiny, what triggered the war to start? What treaty ended the war and what land was won/lost? What amount did the United States offer Mexico for these lands before the war? What amount did the United States give Mexico for the lands after the war? The Conclusion paragraph must contain your reasoning and answer to the main question. Was the Mexican-American War justified? Works Cited Page for MLA cited sources. Add the Gadsden Purchase if you need more.
The Mexican American War (1846) and Texas Independence (1836) are 2 different events! Both should be part of your paper.
Student name:
Title: The Mexican-American War: Justification or Aggression?
Introduction:
The Mexican-American War was a significant conflict that occurred between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. It stemmed from various underlying causes, including tensions over Texas independence from Mexico, the concept of Manifest Destiny, and a dispute over the border between the two nations. This essay aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the war, examining its history before, during, and after, in order to determine whether it was justified or an act of aggression.
History of the War:
Prior to the Mexican-American War, tensions between the United States and Mexico had been escalating for several years. In 1836, Texas successfully gained independence from Mexico, leading to its annexation by the United States in 1845. This move sparked outrage among Mexican leaders who still considered Texas as part of their territory, as they believed the annexation violated their national sovereignty.
The concept of Manifest Destiny further intensified these tensions. The idea that the United States was destined to expand from coast to coast fueled American ambitions to acquire Mexican territory, particularly California and New Mexico. This belief, combined with economic motivations and the desire for resource-rich lands, set the stage for conflict between the two nations.
The war officially began in 1846 when the United States claimed that Mexican troops had crossed the Rio Grande, which they considered the U.S. border, and attacked American soldiers. However, historical records suggest that the U.S. troops may have actually initiated hostilities by provoking Mexican forces. Regardless of who started the conflict, the war saw a series of intense battles and military campaigns on both sides.
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed in 1848, ended the Mexican-American War. Under the terms of the treaty, Mexico recognized the annexation of Texas by the United States and ceded a vast amount of territory, including modern-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming. In return, the United States agreed to pay Mexico $15 million and assume $3.25 million in debts owed by Mexico to American citizens.
Justification or Aggression?
Determining whether the Mexican-American War was justified or an act of aggression depends on the perspective taken. From the American point of view, the war was seen as a necessary step towards the fulfillment of Manifest Destiny and the expansion of the United States. They argued that Texas had voluntarily joined the United States and that the conflict was a response to Mexican aggression on American soil.
However, from the Mexican perspective, the war was a blatant act of aggression by the United States. Mexico saw the annexation of Texas as an illegal seizure of their territory, and the subsequent invasion by U.S. forces as an infringement upon their sovereignty. Furthermore, the unequal terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, wherein Mexico relinquished large portions of land for a relatively small sum of money, reinforced the view that the war was an unjust imperialist endeavor.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the Mexican-American War was a complex conflict with numerous underlying causes and perspectives to consider. From the American perspective, it was justified as an expansionist effort to fulfill Manifest Destiny and secure valuable territory. However, from the Mexican viewpoint, it was an act of aggression that violated their national sovereignty and resulted in the loss of substantial portions of their land. Ultimately, whether the war was justified or an act of aggression remains a matter of perspective, highlighting the complexities surrounding historical conflicts.
Works Cited:
[Insert MLA citations for sources used]
Note: If further information is desired about the Gadsden Purchase, it could be added as an additional paragraph or incorporated within the discussion of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.