Manifest destiny was a belief that the United States should expand across the continent to the Pacific ocean. At that time Texas was independent of Mexico. John L O’Sullivan said “It is time for the opposition to the Annexation of Texas to cease….Texas is now ours….Let their reception in the ‘family’ be frank, kindly, and cheerful….limiting our greatness and checking the fulfillment of our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence (God) for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions”(O’Sullivan 185). In other words, O’Sullivan welcomed Texas, which he believed that this was the beginning of America’s manifest destiny. He also believed with the help of Texans the manifest destiny would soon launch into action. President James Polk sent a war message to Mexico in the concluding sentence he forenamed “Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon the American soil”(Polk 187). That is to say, Polk wrote this in his war message not only as a threat to Mexico but motivation to the manifest destiny. He addresses this indirectly but implies that it will take time, effort, and war to complete the manifest destiny. Manifest destiny was a crucial reason that the United States was justified to go to war with …show more content…
Essentially on March 24th, 1836 Texas was independent of Mexico, as said by Holt McDougal:“Another revolutionary, Sam Houston, was named to head of the Texas army. Austin went to the United States to seek money and troops…. Most Texans hoped that the United States would annex, or take control of, Texas, making it a state.”(Holt McDougal 350 and 353). To further analyze, Mexico had no say over Texas’ annexation in America because they were an independent nation at the time. If Texas did not want to be annexed, they would have stayed an independent nation. Furthermore,(The Nation’s Expansion)says “In 1845, the Republic of Texas voluntarily asked to become a part of the United States, and the government of the United States agreed to annex the nation. Mexican leaders had long warned the United States that if it tried to make Texas, a state, it would declare war.” In other words, Texas asked to become part of the United States, the United States did not ask but approved the annexation. This angered Mexico is beginning the Mexican-American war. In summary, Texas wanted to be part of the United States, which is a key reason that the U.S. was justified in going to war with