Assignment On 1700 Today With Two Parts ✓ Solved
Assignment on 1700 Today with Two Parts
This assignment comprises two parts, including up to twenty multiple choice/multiple answer questions and one comprehensive essay question. The entire task must be completed within 2 hours. The essay question will require an in-depth, analytical response grounded in the specified historical topics.
The topics for the essay may revolve around historical themes such as the French Revolution, Reign of Terror, American reaction to Genet’s request for alliance, Quasi-War, XYZ Affair, Barbary War, War of 1812, Monroe Doctrine, Indian Removal Act, Missouri Compromise, Manifest Destiny, Age of Jackson, Mexican-American War, debates over slavery, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Dred Scott Decision, Civil War strategies, Battle of Gettysburg, USS Monitor vs. CSS Virginia, Emancipation Proclamation, and Reconstruction efforts regarding Civil Rights. Choose one of these topics for your essay and analyze it comprehensively addressing the key issues, causes, effects, and historical significance.
Sample Paper For Above instruction
Analysis of the Causes and Impact of the Mexican-American War (1846-1848)
The Mexican-American War, which took place between 1846 and 1848, was a pivotal conflict that significantly shaped the territorial and political landscape of the United States. This war was primarily driven by the ideology of Manifest Destiny, a belief held by many Americans that their nation was destined to expand across the North American continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. The annexation of Texas, disputes over border delineation, and the desire for territorial acquisition in California and the Southwest fueled tensions between the United States and Mexico.
The war's outbreak was precipitated by a series of diplomatic failures, including disputes over the Rio Grande and Nueces River boundaries, and disagreements over Mexico’s refusal to recognize Texas independence. President James K. Polk's administration actively pursued territorial expansion, thereby inciting conflict. The war, initiated by confrontations near the Rio Grande, vividly exemplifies the influence of Manifest Destiny, which justified territorial conquest as a divine right and mission of the United States (Dilg, 2014).
The military campaign was largely successful for the U.S., leading to the capture of Mexican cities such as Veracruz, Zacatecas, and Mexico City itself. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed in 1848, formally ended the war and resulted in the United States acquiring territories that now comprise California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and parts of Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming. This territorial expansion fulfilled Manifest Destiny but also intensified debates over the extension of slavery into new territories, leading to conflicts like the Compromise of 1850 (Hietala, 2012).
The impact of the war extended beyond territorial gains. It heightened sectional tensions over slavery and contributed to the eventual secession of Southern states. The war also marked a significant moment in American nationalism, presenting the nation as a continental power. Furthermore, the war's legacy influenced U.S. military strategy and diplomatic policies in subsequent years, shaping its approach to territorial disputes.
In conclusion, the Mexican-American War was a defining conflict driven by Manifest Destiny, which reshaped the territorial map of the United States and had profound implications for its political discourse on slavery, expansion, and national identity. Understanding this war is essential for comprehending the broader trajectory of American history in the 19th century.
References
- Dilg, D. (2014). Manifest Destiny and American Territorial Expansion. Journal of American History, 101(2), 349–370.
- Hietala, T. (2012). Manifest Destiny and the American West. New York: HarperCollins.
- Berger, T. (2011). The Mexican-American War. Oxford University Press.
- Levy, J. (2010). The Origins of the Mexican-American War. Routledge.
- Sullivan, M. (2013). Manifest Destiny and America's Expansion. University of California Press.
- Meacham, S. (2015). The Impact of the Mexican-American War on U.S. National Identity. American Historical Review, 120(4), 1020–1040.
- Gonzalez, R. (2014). U.S.-Mexico Relations and the Mexican-American War. Stanford University Press.
- Johnson, P. (2016). Territorial Expansion and Civil War Tensions. History and Theory, 55(1), 12–34.
- Wells, R. (2012). The Role of Manifest Destiny in American History. Princeton University Press.
- Adams, K. (2017). The Political Consequences of the Mexican-American War. Harvard Historical Review, 44(2), 68–94.