Was the United States justified in going to war with Mexico

For a long time, people have debated whether the United States was right to annex the Philippines in 1898. There are those who argue that the annexation was necessary for the US to establish its dominance and protect its interests in Asia. On the other hand, some believe that it was an act of imperialism that cannot be justified. In this essay, we will explore both sides of the argument and analyze whether the United States' decision to annex the Philippines was appropriate.

The animosity between the United States and Mexico came to the forefront in 1845 after the U.S. took control of Texas, which was previously under Mexican jurisdiction. The Mexican government saw this as an unlawful takeover and declined to acknowledge Texas as a self-ruling state. As a result, tensions mounted between the two countries and they both started readying their armed forces. Finally, in April 1846, a confrontation between Mexican and American soldiers on the Rio Grande triggered the start of a full-blown conflict.

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One argument for the U.S. going to war with Mexico was that it was necessary to defend American national interests. Proponents of this argument point out that Mexico had refused to recognize Texas' annexation, and that Mexican troops had crossed the Rio Grande, which was a violation of American sovereignty. Furthermore, there were concerns that Mexico was trying to expand its influence in the region and could pose a threat to the United States' security. In addition, some argued that the war was necessary to spread American values and democracy to Mexico, which was seen as a backward and despotic nation.

On the other hand, opponents of the war argued that it was a naked act of aggression and a violation of Mexico's sovereignty. They pointed out that Mexico had never recognized Texas' independence, and that the annexation of Texas was an illegal and provocative act. Furthermore, they argued that the U.S. had provoked the war by sending troops into territory that Mexico regarded as its own. Some critics also pointed out that the war was fought primarily for economic reasons, with the U.S. seeking to expand its territory and control over resources, such as gold and silver.

Another argument against the war was that it was morally unjustifiable. Critics argued that the U.S. was exploiting Mexico's weakness and taking advantage of a neighbor that was unable to defend itself. They also pointed out that the war was fought primarily by poor and working-class Americans, who were being sent to fight and die in a foreign land for the benefit of wealthy elites. The war was also condemned by many prominent figures at the time, including Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson, who saw it as a violation of American values and principles.

In my opinion, the United States was not justified in going to war with Mexico. While there were certainly legitimate concerns about Mexican expansionism and the security of the United States, these concerns could have been addressed through diplomacy and negotiation. The annexation of Texas was a provocative act that needlessly escalated tensions between the two nations, and the U.S. government's decision to send troops into disputed territory was a clear violation of Mexico's sovereignty. Furthermore, the war was fought primarily for economic reasons, with the U.S. seeking to expand its territory and control over resources. This was not a morally justifiable reason to send American soldiers to fight and die in a foreign land.

In conclusion, the United States' decision to go to war with Mexico in 1846 was a controversial and divisive one. While there were arguments for and against the war, I believe that the U.S. was not justified in going to war. The war was a violation of Mexico's sovereignty.