Mexico vs. America: Who’s View Over the Fight for Territory is Right?
If asked about the most dramatic event in the history of any relations between Mexico and the United States, “The Mexican-American War,” I think that most Americans would probably be confused. Mexicans would not. As someone who spent grade school in a small-town near Houston, Texas, I realized that I was under-educated regarding this important historical event. Of what I did learn, it was taught to me in a way that made it seem like Mexico simply sold land to America after a few of fights. In particular, we discussed the Battle of the Alamo, but it was made to seem as if all of the citizens in Texas wanted to become a part of the United States.
The War From a Mexican’s Viewpoint:
American historians refer to the war as “The Mexican-American War”, while Mexicans would refer it as “The U.S Invasion”. The difference is based on conflicting perceptions. President Polk blamed the Mexicans for causing the war; saying that the Mexican government left the United States with no other choice for defending its national security and interest; the Mexicans did not see this way. [1]
In order to clearly understand the Mexican viewpoint, we need to discuss annexation of Texas. The annexation of Texas to the United States was unacceptable from Mexico’s point of view. Particularly because it would hurt the security of Mexico. Furthermore, Mexico stated that the annexation of Texas to the United States was a violation of the 1828 boarder treaty, which had acknowledged Mexico’s sovereignty over that territory.[2] Those acts were a violation of international law, and the United States began to threaten Mexico’s security over the territory. the Texas government had agreed to the annexation on July 4, 1845 — ironically on a day that American’s currently celebrate its independence from European rule. The Mexican government wanted to keep a peaceful and negotiable relationship with the United States. The Mexican government stated that, “…although the Mexican nation was gravely offended by the United States due to its action in Texas — belonging to Mexico — the government was willing to receive a commissioner who would arrive in this capital from the United States possessing full faculties to settle the current dispute in a peaceful, reasonable, and respectable way.”[3]
Unfortunately, the United States was not willing to negotiate. The US demanded the cession of the New Mexico and California territories. The Mexican government was given two choices: 1) don’t surrender and resort to war, or 2) try to re-establish friendly relations with the United States, which would result in telling the world that Mexico is at the United States’ mercy. On July 6, 1846, President Mariano Paredes passed the Congressional decree that sustained such principles in the following terms:
Article 1 — The government, in the natural defense of the nation, will repel the aggression initiated and sustained by the United States of America against the Republic of Mexico, having invaded and committed hostilities in a number of the departments making up Mexican territory.
Article 3 — The government will communicate to friendly nations and to the entire republic the justifiable causes which obliged it to defend its rights, left with no other choice but to repel force with force, in response to the violent aggression committed by the United States.[4]
In reviewing the articles, it could be shown that Mexico never declared a war against the United States but rather needed to defend the country’s territorial integrity and fend off the United States’ invasion. Therefore, from a Mexican view point, the war was not a result of greed or arrogance but a consequence to defend Mexico’s territory from U.S invasion. Therefore, Mexicans call this war “The U.S War against Mexico” or the “U.S. Invasion.”
The War From an American’s Viewpoint:
During the 1840s, many Americans had the idea of a “manifest destiny” carved into their heads. They insisted that their nation had a manifest destiny to dominate the continent and felt that it was their mission to extend the “boundaries of freedom” to others by passing on the idealism and belief in democratic institutions to those who were capable of self-government.
To understand the Americans viewpoint on the war, it is important to understand “manifest destiny” and United States’ need and desire to expand. It excluded those people who were perceived as being incapable of self-government, such as Native American people and those of non-European origin. Firstly, during that period of time, the United States was experiencing high population growth rate from increasing in birth rate and immigration. Therefore, there was a need to expand into new territories to accommodate with this huge population growth. Second, the United States suffered two economic depressions- in 1818 and 1839[5]; therefore, it caused a drive of people seeking life in frontier areas because frontier land was inexpensive and/or free. Third, expansion into frontier areas provided new opportunities for commerce and individual self-advancement, thus, promoting economic growth.
Summing up the three main reasons why Americans wanted to expand its territory; it means that in an American viewpoint, the Mexican American War was purely driven by economic, social, and political pressures to expand U.S territories. In quoting an American textbook on the topic, you can see that the narrative is geared towards putting the citizens of the land in favor of becoming a part of the U.S. Union and that Polk was a savior for offering to buy the land. The following excerpt shows how different the viewpoints are between Americans and Mexicans.
“Many Americans in Mexico had lost their property or had been injured because the Mexican government could not keep order. Mexico had paid some of the claims of these Americans but stopped such payments when Texas was admitted to the Union. That event brought the two nations to the verge of war. The people of Texas declared that their territory extended as far south and west as the Rio Grande. The region which they had actually settled, however, was not so large. As soon as Texas entered the Union, the United States sent an army under General Zachary Taylor to take up a position on the north bank of the Rio Grande with orders to hold the country for the United States.
Meanwhile, President Polk developed a plan he thought would solve the whole matter to the satisfaction of both Mexico and the United States. Polk knew that the vast region which now includes California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and part of Colorado contained very few Mexicans, although it was part of Mexican soil…. There seemed little chance that Mexico would be able to fill it with settlers. Polk offered to buy that broad and almost empty country for a good price and also to relieve Mexico from paying any more of old claims of Americans against the [Mexican] government. The government of Mexico, though poor, was too proud to sell. The Mexicans refused even to listen to Polk’s plan. Meanwhile, some Mexican soldiers crossed to the North side of the Rio Grande, and a fight occurred between some of them and some of Taylor’s troops. This fight brought on the Mexican War.”[6]
In conclusion, it is clear that the discussion during grade school in America and in Mexico are disjointed. This teaches us that although you may believe that a historical event happened a certain way, you have to be mindful of the intent of the authors to provide a misleading viewpoint. This important historical event has been pushed under the rug and parents should be cautious and be active in making sure that the education their children are receiving reflects a more truthful and accurate account of the history.
[1] http://www.umich.edu/~ac213/student_projects06/magsylje/viewpoints.html, https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/president-polk-declares-war-on-mexico
[2] http://www.pbs.org/kera/usmexicanwar/prelude/md_a_mexican_viewpoint.html
[3] Manuel de la Pena y Pena to John Black, (Bosch, October 15, 1845).
[4] Note 2
[5] http://www.pbs.org/kera/usmexicanwar/prelude/md_introduction.html