[Answered] HIST405N-Week 3 Discussion: Manifest Destiny and the Mexican War of 1846

Required Resources
Read/review the following resources for this activity:

  • Textbook: Chapter 8 (section 8.3), 11
  • Lesson
  • Minimum of 1 scholarly source (in addition to the textbook)

Initial Post Instructions
For the initial post, pick two (2) of the following historical events:

  • The Lewis and Clark Expedition
  • The Missouri Compromise
  • Independence of Texas
  • Mexican War of 1846-1848
  • The California Gold Rush

Then, address the following for your selections:

  • Which of your two selections do you consider most impactful on Westward Expansion during 1800-1848? Explain why.
  • Analyze the effects of the ideology of Manifest Destiny on the two historical events that you chose from the list.

Follow-Up Posts
Compare your selections and analysis of selections with those of your peers. If they chose different events, examine how yours are similar and/or different. If they chose the same events, build on their posts by providing additional information about the events that you have not already noted in your own post.

Writing Requirements

  • Minimum of 2 posts (1 initial & 1 follow-up)
  • APA format for in-text citations and list of references

SOLUTION  

The Manifest Destiny was looked at as a term coined by the editor and columnist John O’ Sullivan to describe his belief in America’s divine right to expand  westward. (Keen et al., 2012, p. 338).  The ideology was strongly supported by James Polk which was a strong supporter of slavery and expanding west as a necessity and inevitability (Keen et al., 2012, p.328) which was a contributing factor to the Mexican War of 1846.  After the annexation of Texas in 1845 into the Union, there was debate between the boundaries separating Mexican and Texas which was now United States territory.  Mexico believed the southern border of Texas to be the Nueces River and not the Rio Grande which would give more land to Texas.  Polk had sent John  Slidell to Mexico.  However, Mexico was not interested in this as they were still upset over losing Texas when they claimed independence from in 1836 (Keen et al., 2012).  Schmidt (2004), also suggest that the annexation of Texas by the United States….please click the purchase button below to access the entire solution at $5