Decision to Declare War on Mexico - Essay Example

May 2, 1846 Mr. President, I am writing you in hopes that this letter will aid you in your decision to declare war on Mexico. This is something that I believe very strongly in. I feel that the land acquired as a result of an invasion of Mexico is exactly what this country needs, and in fact, can prove beneficial for some Mexicans, as well. First of all, our population is ever-expanding. While the present state of the country can accommodate the population as is, although in certain places somewhat uncomfortably, we must think toward the future. The population is growing exponentially. In 1800, the population of this fine country was somewhere around 5 million, and today, it has risen to more than 23 million. The population nearly tripled in less than half a century! And, with the high volume of immigration coupled with the need for larger families to sustain farms, this trend will likely continue at a more rapid pace. Acquiring land from Mexico would greatly help with this problem, by giving more land for our growing population to live in. Secondly, because of the harsh economic conditions that many in this country have faced, frontier land offers new possibilities. The economic depressions suffered by this country in 1819 and again in 1837 left many with next to nothing. Westward expansion offers a fresh start for such people. The reason for this is that frontier land costs very little, and in some cases, is free. This means that many people who could never have the means to become landowners presently may now have the chance. This is important, since landownership signifies wealth, power, and independence. At the same time, westward expansion opens the opportunity for new forms of commerce. A struggling craftsman on the East coast must deal with the competition of other craftsmen of the same trade. Place this same craftsman out west, and he may find that while need for his craft has not changed, he is experiencing little to no competition from rival craftsmen. He may even end up with more customers than he can handle. Imagine the riches! Also, merchants who relocated out West will open West coast ports. This will allow trade between the United States and Pacific countries, making our nation even more prosperous. Lastly, it is our duty to spread democracy to the world. Democracy is God's plan for the world. And, seeing as how the United States is the perfect embodiment of God's plan, who better than us to spread democracy far and wide To not spread democracy to these unfortunate people who no nothing of the joys of democracy would be a sin. We must open their eyes and show them that this is the best way of life. We can begin to fill this duty by acquiring Mexican land and extending democracy to those who happen to inhabit it. As you can see, the desire of land acquisition is not solely a selfish one. I hope I have done my part to persuade you. We must declare war on Mexico in order to further the prosperity of this great country. I am afraid that without expansion, this country will never recognize its full potential. And, in the end, the acquisition of Mexican territory is what's best for everyone involved, both Americans and Mexicans. Thank you for your time, Sincerely, Good job of giving three reasons for the importance of territorial expansion - Might have specifically mentioned California and its potential May 2, 1846 Mr. President, I am writing you in hopes that this letter will aid you in your decision as to whether or not to declare war on Mexico. This is something that I believe very strongly in. I feel that a declaration of war is entirely unnecessary, and in fact could prove disastrous for this nation. First of all, I believe that expanding this nation would prove to weaken democracy. Ours is an experimental government and therefore, its boundaries are unknown. Our nation seems to be running smoothly at its present state, so why tempt fate It is my strong belief that the reason our government works so well is because this country is relatively small and the government is close to the people. While some may argue that this country is already large the way that it is now, it is clear that it will be much larger once land from Mexico is added. Who is to say that developing westward won't be the straw that broke the camel's back I fear that if we expand, the government will no longer represent the voice of the people. Then where does that leave us My second reason is slightly a more personal one. As an abolitionist of the North, I fear that the acquisition of land from Mexico will result in more slave territory. In fact, I believe that this whole notion of war on Mexico is in fact just a scheme to further slave territory. This bothers me for two reasons. First, adding slave states to this country is a step backward in the goal of abolishing slavery. The task of abolishing slavery is a daunting one as it is. Adding more slave states makes it seem impossible. Secondly, adding slave states means more power in Washington for the South, and therefore relatively less power in Washington for the North. I fear that our voices will not be heard if we are underrepresented in Washington. Lastly, I feel that a war with Mexico would leave to unnecessary violence and death, both of Mexicans and Americans. As the only boy in my family, I feel that it is my duty to make sure that my family is safe as it is your duty to make sure that our country is safe. Why must we run in and fight In the past, we have always waited and eventually gotten what we wanted. Why the hurry this time Sure, the population is expanding, but we have more than ample room to accommodate the growing population for the time being. I feel that, given enough time, these regions that we desire from Mexico will break away from Mexico on their own accord and join this great nation. Why risk innocent lives needlessly Who's to say that, given enough time, California won't revolt against Mexico much like Texas did It seems inevitable to me. I think you may underestimate the amount of bloodshed that will result from a war with Mexico. Mexicans are a proud people. They will not give up what is rightfully theirs without a fight. I hope I have done my part to persuade you. We must not declare war on Mexico. The consequences for this country, although unknown, could prove to be disastrous. I feel that we should leave well enough alone, and focus on the nation as it is, instead of always focusing on what is just out of our reach. I feel that this country might be getting just a bit too big for its britches, and this will prove to be its downfall. Thank you for your time, Sincerely, Second and third anti-war arguments are very good - Need to develop first point more clearly or identify another argument against the war Read More