Between 1846 and 1848 the United States fought a war with Mexico over the US
annexation of Texas
and a border dispute. The war resulted in a decisive American victory, and
on February 2, 1848, with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, Mexico ceded to the United
States the land that now comprises the states of California, Utah, and Nevada, as well as parts of Arizona,
New Mexico, Wyoming,
and Colorado.
Mexico also renounced all
rights to Texas.
At this juncture, the United States
made a critical strategic error by not annexing the entire territory of Mexico.
As harsh as this may sound, I think there was
justification for the action. Mexico’s
civilization peaked at the time of the Aztecs. The Aztecs rose to power in Mexico during
the 12th and 13th centuries and remained in control until the arrival of the
Spaniards in the 16th century. Starting in the mid 1400s conquistador Herdando
Cortez enters the city of Tenochtitlan
and captures the Aztec leader Montezuma. Soon missionaries arrive and begin the
conversion of the natives to Catholicism. In the early 1800s Spain recognizes Mexico’s independence, but the
country never again reaches the high water mark set by the Aztecs and earlier native cultures like the Mayans.
The country began spiraling downward with a series of
popular revolutions only to be haunted by corrupt political administrations,
wrenching illiteracy and poverty, and eventually banditry and an influx of drug
dealers who became so entrenched that they now virtually rule parts of the
country, aided and abetted by corrupt policemen and politicians. With the
economy in tatters, large numbers of Mexicans began leaving the country and
illegally entering the United
States. The burden these immigrants have
created on the American economy is incalculable. The issue has also become a
major one for both countries and created ill will on the part of many Americans who
resent their tax dollars being used to support illegal immigrants.
When you think about it, America was expanding rapidly at the time of the
war with Mexico
and in the years thereafter. The Louisiana Purchase, Seward’s acquisition of Alaska, and the territory won from Mexico greatly increased the size of the United States.
It would have been only natural, given the common border between the countries,
for America to simply say that, as the spoils of war, we were annexing all of
Mexico and making it part of our country. In this era of expansion, in addition
to Texas and the other areas of Mexico, America
acquired the Louisiana Purchase from France
and Seward's acquisition of Alaska from Russia, thus fulfilling its “Manifest
Destiny” as the world’s preeminent power of the 19th century.
There might have been some mild diplomatic
protests at first but they would have blown over. Just think of the benefits to Mexico; the
education, health care and job opportunities they are fighting so hard for today
as illegal immigrants would have been their birthright as Americans. I rest my case. Questions?
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Between 1846 and 1848 the 
As harsh as this may sound, I think there was
justification for the action. 
The country began spiraling downward with a series of
popular revolutions only to be haunted by corrupt political administrations,
wrenching illiteracy and poverty, and eventually banditry and an influx of drug
dealers who became so entrenched that they now virtually rule parts of the
country, aided and abetted by corrupt policemen and politicians. With the
economy in tatters, large numbers of Mexicans began leaving the country and
illegally entering the 
When you think about it, 
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