For this portfolio you are writing a short essay on whether or not you believe the Mexican-American War was justified. In other words, should Mexico and America have gone to war?

Question

You are NOT writing me a history of the war. You are writing whether or not the Mexicans and Americans had good reasons to go to war.
Your essay needs to say whether or not you believe the Mexican-American War was justified, and then you need to back up your opinion with reasons/evidence/details.
This may only be one paragraph long, but you need to back up your argument with evidence.
Make it sound like an 8th grader

Answer 1

The Mexican-American War was not justified because it was largely driven by the United States' desire for land rather than any legitimate reasons for conflict. The U.S. government, under President James K. Polk, wanted to expand its territory, believing in Manifest Destiny—the idea that Americans were destined to spread across the continent. This led to the annexation of Texas, which had just gained independence from Mexico, without proper respect for Mexico's sovereignty. Moreover, there were disputes over the borders, with the U.S. claiming land that Mexico considered its own. Instead of trying to resolve these issues through diplomacy, the U.S. chose to send troops into disputed territory, leading to conflict. This aggressive push for expansion came at a great cost to the Mexican people, both in terms of lives lost and territory surrendered. In conclusion, the motivations behind the Mexican-American War were primarily driven by greed and a desire for more land, making it unjustified in my opinion.