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There are there different authors for the Three different articles. The first article “Manifest Destiny” by Sam W. Haynes is a prelude to the war. It gives an insight into the mindset of the american people before the war. The article discusses the motives of americans for westward expansion. It talks about how anxiety towards G.B., the wants of southerners to expand the slave trade, and the idea of Manifest Destiny all held a role in westward expansion. The second article “An Ideal or Justification?” by David M. Pletcher discusses the role of Manifest destiny in westward expansion. The article argued that, the idea of Manifest destiny was the main justification for westward expansion. The article also talks about opposition to westward expansion from the Jeffersonians and support for westward expansion by the Hamiltonians and president Polk. The Third article “Many Truths Constitute the Past” by David J. Weber talks about how the war wasn't entirely one sided, and how we must look at all sides of the story to get a better understanding of history. The article also talks about how the the Mexican war (which was a war of aggression to seize territory) was conveniently forgotten by Americans because its not one of the more honorable moments in American history.
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The author of the first article, Sam W. Haynes uses a third person point of view in order to give a historical account of how americans in the 1800’s felt about westward expansion. We, the reader hear only hear the American Point of View. The article is missing the voice of the Mexicans living in that land during the time of expansion. The author of the second article David M. Pletcher Also uses a third person point of view; however he also talks about how Mexico and European nations at that time felt about America’s aggressive westward expansion. The purpose of that article is to give the broad perspective of not only Americans but also that of the Mexicans and Europeans on the topic of Manifest Destiny. We get hear the voices of all the involved parties. The author of the third article David J. Weber, uses a second person point of view to discuss how growing up in America, we only hear the American perspective of the war. The author’s purpose in writing the article is to encourage the reader to acknowledge the Mexican perspective of the war, in order to get a more accurate understanding of history.
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In class, we looked at a Painting of Manifest Destiny which portrayed gold miners and farmers moving westward, and pushing out the native peoples. We discussed how Mexico lost out in all the resources available in California and Texas because of U.S. annexation. We discussed how only a couple years later, gold would be found in California and add to the overall wealth of the nation. The article by David J. Weber also talks about how Mexico was cheated out of their own resources. The article talks about how The war shaped the futures of the two nations, with America being the clear victor, acquiring new resources and wealth, and how Mexico lost the gold mines, agricultural potential and the water resources that once belonged to them. The in class discussion helped me understand why the two nations, America and Mexico are the way they are today.
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In Class the historical question of what happened to the Mexicans that stayed in the lands that got annexed by America came up. We were able to conclude that even though they became citizens of America, they were still treated as second class citizens because of the color of their skin. This reminds me of the current state of the nation and how many Mexican immigrants today are still oppressed by the government.
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We are left wondering what would have happened if America hadn't expanded westward the way it did. Would America still be the powerful nation it is today? how powerful would have Mexico been with access to all the resources and wealth they lost? Would race relations in America be different?
