Three Background Issues

United States and Mexico,

1830s-1840s

I. American Expansionism Manifest Destiny: a body of ideas promoting

American expansionism God had ordained that Americans would inhabit

vast territories in North America Pervasive idea promoted by newspapers and

coined by John L. O’Sullivan Also promoted by U. S. presidents such as John Q.

Adams, Andrew Jackson and James K. Polk

Manifest Destiny

American sense of mission- to civilize the wilderness, spread democratic principles to those capable of benefiting from them

Excluded non-Europeans (Indians, Blacks, etc.)

Opposition to Manifest Destiny Northerners: due to their conviction that southern

slavery would be expanded in new territories Southerners: some opposed due to the possible

acquisition of non-whites Others believe that inclusion of non-whites would

be destructive to democratic ideals and divisive. American Anti-slavery Society, Frederick

Douglas, and Henry David Thoreau

II. Politics in Mexico

Mexico plagued by chronic political instability 1821-1871- 50 Mexican presidents in office 1821-1848-almost all presidents overthrown Political factions: Centralists, Federalists, Mexican politics prevents consistent approach to

problems with Texas Revolt and Polk administration

III. Texas Boundary Dispute Article 4, The Treaty of Velasco Asserted the Rio Grande as Texas’ southern boundary Mexico believes the boundary is at the Nueces Maps in Mexico indicated the Nueces as the boundary in

1767, 1829, 1833, 1836 Treaty of Limits: asserted the boundary at Nueces, Texas

as Mexican territory (1831) President James K. Polk supports Texas claims to the R.G.