What were the reasons for and against the Mexican-American War in the United States?

Support for the Mexican-American War

Many Americans backed the Mexican-American War because they thought it would widen the country's borders and assist in achieving Manifest Destiny. Manifest Destiny was the belief that the United States was destined to rule over the entire North American continent. By acquiring more land through the war, they believed they were fulfilling this destiny and expanding the nation's territory.

Opposition to the Mexican-American War

Several Americans opposed the Mexican-American War because they thought it was an unjust land grab that would result in numerous casualties and displacement of many Mexicans. They also believed that the newly acquired territories would likely join the Union as slave states, thus expanding the slave system. This belief further fueled their opposition to the war. The Nueces Strip boundary dispute between Texas and the United States was the immediate cause of the Mexican-American War. However, the underlying reasons for and against the war reflected the broader sentiments and beliefs of the American people during that time.

What was one primary reason many Americans supported the Mexican-American War?

One primary reason many Americans supported the Mexican-American War was their belief that it would help widen the country's borders and fulfill the concept of Manifest Destiny.

What was one primary reason some Americans were against the Mexican-American War?

One primary reason some Americans were against the Mexican-American War was their view that it was an unjust land grab that would lead to casualties and the expansion of the slave system.

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