Directions: For this portfolio project, you will evaluate whether the Mexican-American War was justified.
Description
You have been reading about the war between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. It sprang out of a dispute between two countries over the southern border of Texas. The U.S. claimed the Rio Grande as the border, while Mexico claimed the Nueves River farther north. Each based its claim, in part, on agreements made at the end of the Texas war for independence, which ended in 1836. Each also based its claim on nationalism, or national self-interest, and a desire to expand its territory. For this portfolio project, you will explore different perspectives regarding the Mexican-American War. You will then present your findings in a short essay. Your final product will describe each point of view. It should give historically accurate facts. Your portfolio assignment has four steps:
1. Research the Mexican-American War—its causes, the course of the conflict, and its results.
2. Examine the Pearson Realize Civic Discussion Sources A–E for additional information.
3. Analyze your research.
4. Form your judgment and write your essay.
Step 1
Conduct the following research to complete your assignment:
Research Source of Information
List basic facts about the root of the conflict—include who, what, when, where, and why.
Describe the Texans’ actions—how Texas came to exist.
List some differences between the Texan and Mexican perspectives after the Texas war for independence.
Describe the beginnings of the Mexican-American war.
Describe the course of the war and its results.
You can use note cards, type your notes on a computer, or use another note-taking method. You can conduct a safe search on the internet or at your local library for information, or you may also use EBSCOhost databases to identify reference materials for this activity. Follow the directions below to access this resource.
EBSCO
1. Select the EBSCO link from your course page
2. Select Explora Secondary Schools
3. Narrow your search by selecting the relevant subject matter
4. Narrow your search further or use the Find field, and then select the Search button.
Step 2
Before you write your essay, consider the following questions:
1. What allowed settlers to establish a colony in Texas?
2. How did the interaction between the settlers in Texas and the Mexican government develop and change over time?
3. How do you think the perspectives of the Texas settlers and the Mexican government would vary? On what things might the Mexican government and Texas settlers agree?
4. How can you demonstrate the differences in the perspectives about Texas and its independence with historically accurate facts?
5. What were the consequences of the Texas war for independence and in what way did they influence the start of the Mexican-American War?
6. What actions could the United States or Mexican governments have taken to avoid conflict?
Step 3
You will be writing a short essay for your final product. In order to evaluate whether the Mexican-American War was justified, you need to consider the perspective of each side. In establishing the perspective of each side, you will need to use the actions, words, and circumstances of each side and how the sides interacted with one another in order to build your logical argument.
3 answers
1. The Root of the Conflict: The Mexican-American War was sparked by a dispute over the southern border of Texas. The United States claimed the Rio Grande as the border, while Mexico claimed the Nueces River farther north. This disagreement stemmed from conflicting agreements made at the end of the Texas war for independence in 1836.
2. Texans' Actions: Texas came to exist through a series of actions by American settlers. These settlers migrated to Texas and eventually sought independence from Mexican rule. The Texan perspective emphasized their desire for self-governance and expansion of their territory.
3. Differences in Perspectives: After the Texas war for independence, Texan and Mexican perspectives differed on the status and borders of Texas. Texans believed in their right to independence and supported the idea of Texas joining the United States. Meanwhile, the Mexican government viewed Texas as a rebellious province and maintained that it was still part of Mexico.
4. Beginning of the Mexican-American War: The Mexican-American War began in 1846 when the United States sent troops into the disputed territory between the Rio Grande and Nueces River. Mexico saw this as an invasion of its territory, while the United States justified its actions based on its interpretation of the border.
5. Course of the War and Results: The war lasted for two years and resulted in significant territorial gains for the United States. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed in 1848, officially ended the war and established the Rio Grande as the border between Texas and Mexico. Mexico lost approximately half of its territory to the United States, including present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, and Oklahoma.
Considering these points, you can form your judgment and write your essay by analyzing the different perspectives and arguments presented by each side. Assess the historical accuracy of the facts presented and consider the motivations, actions, and consequences of the war. Ultimately, you will need to present a reasoned argument on whether or not you believe the Mexican-American War was justified.