James K.Polk said, “Foreign powers do not seem to appreciate the true character of our government.” He was speaking about how various foreign powers frowned upon American rapid acquisition of new territory in the late 1840’s. The Mexican-American War had a important and big impact on the United States and Mexico. The war was primarily a territorial argued caused by the United States’ policy of Manifest Destiny. Polk ordered troops into the disputed territory with Mexico, starting a war. Through the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, the United States gained half a million miles of territory, directly facilitating the discovery of gold and silver in California, reigniting the American drive towards Westward expansion.
There are about ten major battles, and the Americans won all of the them, because they had better weapons and training than the Mexican army. The first major battle took place at Palo Alto in Texas on May 9 in 1846. The American General Zachary Taylor led this battle. After that, the Guerilla attacks against United States supply lines, however for all of purposes the war had ended. The Mexican dictator, Santa Anna resigned, and the United States waited for a new government.
Finally, on Feb 2 in 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo was signed that establishing the Rio Grande. And approved on May in 1848 by both governments, the Mexicans ceded the territories which is including California and New Mexico to the United States in exchange for 15million dollars. And the American expanded westward because the growing nation needed more land for an increasing population and more natural resources.
The Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo is the oldest one which is still in force between United States and Mexico. The president at that time, James K.Polk, sent diplomat Nicolas Trist to General Winfiel Scott, to ended the war. But it was difficult. The Mexicans did not want to give any territories to the America. However in the end, the Mexico signed treaty in the Guadalupe Basilica in the town of Hidalgo. So this treaty called by the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo.
Just week after the treaty was signed, the gold was discovered in California. And this led to the largest Gold Rush in the United States’ history. But this territory was not the Mexico’s land ant more, so the Mexicans cannot tasted the sweet of gold.
The Gold Rush is most important events to shape the American history during the first half of the 19th century. Throughout 1849, most of United States’ men borrowed the money and spent their life savings to make the journey to California for Gold Rush. So in California, there are lots of non-natives, about 100,000. The Gold Rush led to get California’s admission to the Union as the 31st state. In 1849, California applied to enter the Union of preventing slavery, make a fight in Congress between supporters of slavery and abolitionists. According to the Compromise of 1850 of Henry Clay, California was allowed to enter as a free state.
At that time the United States president was Tomas Jefferson, and he believed that the United States’ destiny is depends on westward expansion. The West was officially open and secure to Americans. So the most of people were migrated to west, and it called ‘Manifest Destiny’. The term Manifest Destiny was first made by Congressman Robert Winthrop and then made popular by newspaper publisher John O’Sullivan in the 1840’s. It meant that it was Gods will that Americans expand from sea to sea.
Manifest Destiny was used to justify the war with Mexico in the 1840s which resulted in gain the lots of territories which is owned by Mexico and expanded the United States.
The main issue of the expansion westward was the extension of slavery into the territories. The South agreed it and the North against it. Americans required they were bringing God, technology and civilization to the the west. This is the song of one perspective in Manifest Destiny.
‘More blood on the hands of Christ They called themselves Christians
And gave themselves the rights Disguised as missionaries
They were really after gold Many Indians died for that
How many’s never told’
The westward expansion had negative effects on the Native Americans. They were forced live on restriction. The military fight between White people and Natives Americans, and it resulted in many death of people. The major factor involved with westward expansions violent opposition
to culture and government. But most of Native Americans’ oppositions was blocked by United States’ government. Like these with the westward expansion, the United States can be more bigger today.
