Study Notes on U.S. Mexican War

The U.S. Mexican War: Arguments For and Against American Expansion

Context and Background

  • The documents analyze the period of westward expansion in the United States, including the justification for the Mexican-American War and its implications.

Key Documents and Thematic Analysis

Document A: John L. O’Sullivan's Manifest Destiny (1845)

  • Author: John L. O’Sullivan, a Democratic editor.

  • Argument Summary: O’Sullivan articulates the ideology of "Manifest Destiny," asserting that Americans are destined by Providence (God) to expand across the continent.

  • Quote: "The American claim to new territory … is by the right of our manifest destiny to overspread and to possess the whole of the continent…"

  • Interpretation: The idea suggests a moral obligation to spread liberty and federative self-governance.

  • Metaphor: Compares the American right of expansion to a tree requiring space for growth.

Document B: Andrew Jackson’s Letter (1843)

  • Author: Andrew Jackson, former President of the United States.

  • Argument Summary: Jackson discusses the annexation of Texas, emphasizing its importance for U.S. institutions and potential peace with foreign powers.

  • Quote: "The annexation of Texas … promises to enlarge the circle of free institutions … and is essential to the United States."

  • Interpretation: Jackson suggests that territorial expansion can reduce conflicts and promote peace and democracy.

Document C: Walt Whitman’s Editorial (1846)

  • Author: Walt Whitman, a prominent American poet.

  • Argument Summary: Whitman expresses a utopian vision where the growth of the American Republic leads to increased human happiness and liberty.

  • Quote: "What has miserable, inefficient Mexico … with the great mission of peopling the New World with a noble race?"

  • Interpretation: Whitman depicts a stark contrast between American ideals and Mexican governance, endorsing American expansion as a noble cause to eliminate tyranny.

Document D: Albert Gallatin’s Perspective

  • Author: Albert Gallatin, a prominent political figure.

  • Argument Summary: Gallatin argues against American infringement on the rights of Mexicans despite acknowledging perceived superiority.

  • Quote: "However superior the Anglo-American race may be to that of Mexico, this gives the Americans no right to infringe upon the rights of the inferior race."

  • Interpretation: Challenges the notion of racial superiority and argues for the moral responsibility to respect other nations' rights.

Document E: James Russell Lowell’s Satirical Critique (1846)

  • Author: James Russell Lowell, a journalist and poet.

  • Argument Summary: Lowell critiques the war, equating it as an unjust demand for slave territory.

  • Quote: "Thet we wunt hey an inch o’slave territory; … The war is a damned war, an’ them thet enlist in it should hev a cravat with a dreffle tight twist in it…"

  • Interpretation: Uses satire to condemn the war as a vehicle for expanding slavery rather than liberty.

Document F: Abraham Lincoln’s Opposition (1860)

  • Author: Abraham Lincoln, future President of the United States.

  • Argument Summary: Lincoln critiques the justification for sending military force to Mexico.

  • Quote: "The act of sending an armed force among the Mexicans was unnecessary… and that it was unconstitutional."

  • Interpretation: Argues that the decision was both unwarranted and an overreach of presidential power, emphasizing Congress's role in declaring war.

Questions and Answers

Arguments For the Expansion of America and War with Mexico

  1. (Doc A): Justification based on Manifest Destiny as a divine right.

  2. (Doc B): Annexation of Texas essential for U.S. freedom and peace.

  3. (Doc C): Expansion linked to increasing human happiness and freedom against perceived tyranny.

Arguments Against the Expansion of America and War with Mexico

  1. (Doc D): Moral argument against infringing on the rights of Mexicans despite claims of superiority.

  2. (Doc E): Satirical critique of the war as a means to expand slavery rather than support liberty.

  3. (Doc F): Lincoln’s view that military action was unnecessary and unconstitutional.

Surprising Element in Document D

  • Although Document D argues against war, it surprisingly acknowledges the influence and potential moral leadership of the U.S. over the less 'enlightened' nations, shifting the tone from one of outright condemnation to a more paternalistic justification for influence.

Argument Paragraph Example

  • The primary source documents provide extensive insights into the rationale behind the Mexican-American War. For instance, John L. O’Sullivan's concept of Manfiest Destiny positions American expansion as a divine right aimed at spreading liberty. In contrast, Abraham Lincoln critiques the war's justification, labeling it unnecessary and unconstitutional. Furthermore, Walt Whitman's call to rid the land of tyranny encapsulates a heroic vision of American growth at the expense of neighboring nations. However, there is a profound ethical question as presented by Albert Gallatin, who argues against infringing on the rights of Mexicans, suggesting that moral responsibility should guide international relations. Ultimately, the documents reflect a complex interplay of ideals, ethics, and factual debates surrounding the war that punctuate this pivotal moment in American history.