Manifest Destiny DBQ

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The Spanish monarchy relinquished colonial power over Mexico in 1821. After gaining independence, Mexico established legislatures, including the abolition of slavery (Document D). The abolition of slavery would lead to a mass controversy and essentially a war. Before the Mexican War, a mass influx of United States, immigrants had entered Texas (Document D). Defying Mexican legislature, citizens in the western and southern parts of the United States saw Texas as an economic miracle to sell slaves. In the soon to be, the Republic of Texas, ninety insurgents signed a Declaration of Independence from Mexico in 1836 (Summer, American Spirit). Texas became an independent nation after the battle of San Jacinto. The Republic of Texas remained an independent nation until 1845 when Texas was formally added to the United States of America. However, was the annexation of Texas justified? The United State had no validation to attack the Mexican government. Politically, the corruption of President James K. Polk fused with the new social belief of manifest destiny, influenced the war between the United States and Texas.
Democrat James K. Polk was elected president in 1844. Polk was the first American “dark horse” candidate, or unannounced candidate at the democratic convention (Zinn, A People’s History). President, James K. Polk had a
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The concept of manifest destiny heavily influenced the Mexican-American war. Manifest destiny is the belief that “God” had destined the US to expand from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans and from Canada to the Rio Grande river. Manifest destiny had strong influence. One reason of Manifest destiny’s popularity was to encourage US expansion west. Manifest destiny was a nationalistic idea; however, there is no justification to arrive in Mexico and claim “American” land that was not America’s. Subsequently, the United States’ vision of manifest destiny won the public's support for the Mexican
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