Posted: April 10th, 2021

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The anti-imperialistic sentiments of the American Revolutionary War started to become a distant memory. By the 1830’s the momentum to expand westward was in full swing. By 1836, Texans had won their independence from Mexico, and then became part of the United States. Americans continued their movement westward, coming into conflict with the Mexican government. Having won independence from Spain in 1821, Mexico, under the leadership of General Santa Anna was poised to retain its authority within its former Spanish territory. These two competitive and developing powers in the Western hemisphere led to war. The Mexican American War (1846-1848), significantly expanded the borders of the United States. Together with Texas, the United States added California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Wyoming to its borders. In essence, the West had become the first American Empire. At this stage, there were only two obstacles standing in the way of continued western expansion, geography and American Indians.

Slavery had become a centralized in American politics. The question of new states becoming slave states was a contentious issue. A line was drawn between the Northern and Southern states over the issue of slavery. The North was developing into an industrialized, labor driven free market. While the South retained its agricultural tradition, by retaining the system of slavery to keep their economic system going.

Do you think war between the United States and Mexico was inevitable? Or do you think that war could have been avoided?

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