US History: Mexican War?

Question

I am wondering what does the political issues during the Mexican War have in relations to the movement of American military forces during the war?

Answer 1

Prior to the US–Mexican War, Texas and other northern territories of Mexico were frequented by mountain men from the U.S. and tradesmen who traversed the Santa Fe Trail. U.S. citizens were already in California, coming by way of the California Trail, and U.S: ships had been exchanging goods for hides and tallow along the coast of California. For the 25 years subsequent to Mexico's independence from the Spanish Empire this area had been a part of the first Mexican republic (1823-1861) or the First Mexican Empire (1822-1823) that preceded it. The Spanish Empire had acquired these territories by conquering of the Aztec Empire and various other Native American peoples.

In the years following the Louisiana Purchase by the United States, U.S. settlers began to move westward into Spanish territory, encouraged by Spanish land grants and the United States government. After the Mexican War of Independence, Mexico inherited ownership of the provinces of Alta California, La Mesilla, Nuevo Mexico and Tejas from Spain and the westward migration of U.S. settlers continued.

In the mid-1830s, the government of Mexico, under General Santa Anna, attempted to centralize power. However, several Mexican states rebelled against his government, including Texas, California, San Luis Potosí, Querétaro, Durango, Guanajuato, Michoacán, Yucatán, Jalisco and Zacatecas. Texans had multiple grievances, including the abolition of slavery by Mexico in 1829 and the abolition of a federalist Constitution of 1824 for a centralist government under Santa Anna. The violent insurgency started in Texas is known as the Texas Revolution.

The new Mexican government, weakened and virtually bankrupt from the Mexican War of Independence, found it difficult to govern its northern territories, hundreds of miles from Mexico City, the nation's capital, but brutally put down rebellions in its southern territories.


[edit] Republic of Texas
In the successful 1836 Texas Revolution, Texas won its independence after defeating Santa Anna and the Mexican army. General Santa Anna was taken captive by the Texas militia and only released after he promised to recognize the sovereignty of the Republic of Texas. However, when Santa Anna returned to Mexico, the government never recognized the loss or independence of the Republic of Texas and declared its intention to recapture what it considered a breakaway province.

In the decade after the war, Texas consolidated its position as an independent republic by establishing diplomatic ties with Great Britain and the United States. By and large, most Texans were in favor of annexation by the United States, but anti-slavery Northerners feared that admitting another slave state would tip the balance of national power to the slave-holding South, and they delayed Texas's annexation for almost a decade. Consequently, Texas was not admitted to the union until 1845, when it became the 28th state.

The Mexican government complained that by annexing its "rebel province," the United States had intervened in Mexico's internal affairs and unjustly seized its sovereign territory. The major European powers, led by Britain and France, recognized the independence of Texas and repeatedly tried to dissuade Mexico from declaring war. British efforts to mediate were fruitless as additional political disputes (particularly the Oregon boundary dispute) arose between Britain and the United States.

In 1845, the new U.S. President, James K. Polk, sent diplomat John Slidell to Mexico City in an attempt to purchase Mexico's California and New Mexico territories. U.S. expansionists wanted California to thwart British ambitions in the area and to have a port on the Pacific Ocean, which would allow the United States to participate in the lucrative trade with Asia. Polk authorized Slidell to forgive the $4.5 million owed to U.S. citizens from the Mexican War of Independence and pay another $25 to $30 million in exchange for the two territories.

However, Mexico was neither inclined nor in a position to negotiate, largely because of political turmoil. In 1846 alone, the presidency changed hands four times, the war ministry six times, and the finance ministry sixteen times. [1] According to historian D.F. Stevens both Mexican public opinion and Mexican political factions and leaders were hawkish on the issue of North American territories, advocating a policy of war [2]. Mexicans opposing open conflict with the United States such as President José Joaquin de Herrera and others were considered traitors. When President Juaquin de Herrera considered receiving Slidell in order to peacefully negotiate the problem of Texas annexation, he was deposed after being accused of treason and trying to hand over part of national territory.

Military opponents of President José Joaquin de Herrera considered Slidell's presence in Mexico City an insult. After a more nationalistic government under General Mariano Paredes y Arrillaga came to power, the new government publicly reaffirmed Mexico's claim to Texas, and Slidell left in a temper, convinced that Mexico should be "chastised." [2]