why did the us go to war w/ mexico in the 1800's for land, but not with the British??
923715
The US–Mexican War was a military conflict fought between the United States and Mexico in the years 1846 to 1848, in the wake of the U.S. annexation of Texas in 1845. Mexico had always refused to recognize the loss of Texas in 1836 and announced its intention to take back what it considered a rebel province. In the United States, the war was a partisan issue, supported by most Democrats and opposed by most Whigs. Popular belief in the Manifest Destiny of the United States ultimately translated into public support for the war. In Mexico, the war was considered a matter of national pride.\n\nThe most important consequence of the war was the Mexican Cession, in which the Mexican territories of California and New Mexico were ceded to the United States. The question of extending slavery to these new territories was a catalyst that helped bring on the American Civil War just 15 years later. In Mexico, the enormous loss of territory which resulted from the war encouraged the central government to enact policies to colonize its northern territories as a hedge against further losses.\n\nIn the U.S., the war is sometimes called the Mexican War. In Mexico, it is called la intervención norteamericana (the North American Intervention) or la guerra del 47 (the War of '47).
309275
The American West can really be considered as three portions.  The area from the Mississippi to the Rocky Mountains was French territory, and was purchased by the US Government in 1803 as The Louisiana Purchase.  The Pacific Northwest was claimed by both England, through its colony Canada, and the US.  The US claimed as far north as 54°40', while England claimed as far south as 42°; the Oregon Treaty of 1846 set the boundary at 49°N.  The American Southwest was originally owned by Mexico, and deeded to the US government in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo of 1848, except for a small part of Arizona and New Mexcio that was purchased the same year, the Gadsden Purchase.  \n\nSince all of the land was purchased or accepted in treaty by the US Government, it belonged to the government.  In 1862, Congress passed the Homestead Act.  For a mere $18 filing fee, any head of a household, including women and, later, former slaves, could file and receive title to 160 acres of land.  The owner had to live on the land for five years, build a house and make improvements, most noticeably plant a tree line, and then the land would become his or hers.  In addition, land was granted to build universities.  \n\nThe Homestead Act was repealed in the Continental United States in 1976, and in Alaska in 1986.  The land not distributed to homesteaders remains the property of various departments of the US Department of the Interior, which allocates its use in various means.  The Bureau of Land Management, for example, manages grazing land.  The Minerals Management Service manages mineral rights on federal lands.  The National Park Service manages lands set aside to be preserved for public use, as well as national buildings like the Washington, Lincoln, and Jefferson Monuments.  The US Fish and Wildlife Service manages fish and wildlife (duh).  The Bureau of Reclamation manages waterways, and constructs dams, canals, and reservoirs, including Hoover Dam and the Grand Coulee Dam.\n\nSo to summarize your question, the American West is owned by homesteaders and those who purchased land from them, and the US Government.
388072
Even American Indians fought for different hunting grounds.  Our European ancestors that settled here were just better warriors.  Now we have boarders and laws.  They are observed in all other countries on this planet, the USA should not be any different.  Mexico has some of the toughest immigration laws and some of the harshest penalties for breaking them.
685385
Here's the thing...the US bought a huge chunk of the Southwest from Mexico in the first place.  If they want it back, I suggest they break out the check-book.
601949
Actually, it was in 1862.  Mexico owed a lot of money to Britain, France and Spain, so they agreed to invade to collect the debt.  Actually, France wanted to conquer and rule Mexico for its mineral wealth.  They invaded at Veracruz.\n\nThe Mexican forces won one of the early battles in this war on May 5, 1862, at Puebla, and that victory is celebrated to this day as Cinco de Mayo.
147844
Couple of reasons.\n\nFirst, we had closer economic ties to Great Britain.\n\nSecond, Great Britain and France had a better propaganda machine, and made US citizens think of the war in terms of the evil German Empire versus the noble French and English democracies.\n\nThird, the Germans eventually adopted unrestricted submarine warfare in early 1917, which meant that civilian American ships carrying goods to Britain and France were sunk.\n\nFourth, also in early 1917 (January 16), the British interecepted a telegram from the German Empire to the German ambassador in Mexico saying that if Mexico would declare war on theside of Germany and attack the US, they would be rewarded with the return of the terrority Mexico lost in the Mexican-American War. The British promptly gave this information to the US, and combined with the sinking of American ships by German subs, this caused the entry of the US into WWI on the side of the Allies.
653544
mexician and american war 158 years ago.  only i am not so sure you can invade, mexician troops were riding across the rio grande into texas, which had won its independence.\n\nat the same time, the folks in CA declared indpendence from mexico as well.
168970
It is one of those questions where books could be written.  That said, a case could be made that the British started it by going against their (and America’s) Common Law, by not applying all of those rights to those living in the Americas.  It was only a matter of time before there would be a response to such a policy.  Since the British Crown reject peaceful petitions to redress grievances, violence would follow.
650448
Hell, we got outside help in fighting the English for our independence.  One of my ancestors was a German with money who came over during the revolution and fought against the English.  After the war of independence, he decided to stay and married one of my direct ancestors who's family had already been in the colonies for 100 years. Sorry, I digress!\n\nSo you see, this help thing can work both ways. If you want off on Cinco De Mayo, you first have to get a Mexican to acknowledge they got help from the US against the French.   Do you think that's possible??? \n\nBoy, these Mexicans who still have jobs must have money to burn, if they can afford to take off work two days in one week, so they can attend their Mexican holidays.  I wonder if they will be waving the American flag to show their loyalty to the US on that day???
294411
America does not offer, because they know that they will not accept.  Mexico, though more impoverished, has a common trait with other countries: the desire to be an autocracy or self-governing country.  Also, many people are already against imperialism-immoral, causes more problems for america, etc- so it would be difficult to convince congress to agree with the decision to take over mexico.
717183
Ha ha. Mexico would be stupid to go to war with us. They would not do it. The only people that would be hurt by the mine field idea, would be people who should not have been there in the first place. I like the idea, but know it will never be implemented.\n\njo- Why don't you open your house to everyone?\n\nchuckc2003- I don't know where you live, but this has been a big deal for a long time where I live. I am glad something is finally getting done.\n\nBuck Fush!- Uhh, no one is arguing to stop immigration moron. It is about illegal aliens. Sooooo STFU!
945466
Excuse me? The Battle of the Alamo was fought for Texas independence from a brutal dictator named Santa Ana. Those 187 men sacrificed themselves to buy General Sam Houston time to train   a bunch of farmers.merchants ,mountain men and Indian fighters into a proper army.\n Speaking as a Mexican/American, no one is trying to take over anything.Look around us here. You can't throw a rock  without hitting a Mexican /American.\nWe just happen to be the largest growing CULTURE in the nation. Stop beating a dead horse.
1009216
OH, Good Lord!! You all need to get a grip!! You keep talking about the PAST like it can be changed and like wars are or were EVER "fair". YES the Native Americans were treated unfairly, ok? YES we fought the British, ok? So what? That was history. WE BEAT Mexico!!  OKAY!! We never STOLE a d^ ^^n thing from Mexico!!  IT's HISTORY! PAST!Done! Kaput!! Stop living in the PAST! This is HERE, NOW, 21st CENTURY, 2006! OK? WE, the USA, NOW have laws AGAINST ILLEGAL ENTRY!  We HAVE fought to make this country what it is today, for our rights, for our freedoms, for our LAWS. Without those LAWS enforced we'd still be like the "Wild, wild, west", no lawmen for hundreds of miles and then occasionally a Marshall, or small town Sheriff. Men in my family fought many wars to make this country what it is today. Our Native Americans fought and died for this country. Our Native tongue was used as secret communications in WW II. We contributed to making this country what it is TODAY. If our men, all those who fought and those who died, had not done so, who would be clamoring to get in here? Not many. You say we are Nazi? WHAT? We fought the Nazi's!!  We Have rights, freedom, we can make our own choices, we vote, we don't commit genocide, we are not racist! We have laws that all are to abide by, LOVE it or LEAVE it, that's ONE of the CHOICES we ALL have!! Unless of course you're ILLEGAL, then you shouldn't HAVE a CHOICE because you are not a LEGAL CITIZEN.\n\nIllegal invaders don't have the guts, the pride, the values, the nobility or bravery to do what our forefathers and our young men today do. There may be some Illegal immigrants in Iraq, fighting right alongside our boys, and THEY are the exception. These criminals coming across our border sucking up welfare, increasing crime, closing hospitals, bringing in diseases, living off our hard earned dollar and getting freedoms and 'rights' they didn't earn is an outrage. They should go back home before the red-hot tempers turn to white-hot rage!!\n\nOur government turn a blind eye to their illegal entry, but they KNEW it was against the law!! They came anyway, they are responsible for their OWN actions!! Ignorance of the law is NO EXCUSE!!\n\nSweet Lou--You asked what I have done to ensure our freedoms are not abused. Well, I vote, I write and e-mail my senators and congressmen, I go to town meetings in my community, as much as most people do. The male members of my family have fought in all the wars in the USA from the Revolutionary War to Iraq. I don't need to explain a da** thing to YOU. It wouldn't matter if all I did was cast my vote at elections, I am an American and I don't feel like illegal people should come here and take what MY family and OTHERS have FOUGHT and DIED for!  And I will voice my opinion like anyone does. It's one of those rights my family and others FOUGHT and DIED for!\nWhat have YOU done to assure our freedoms are not abused. You shouldn't let that alligator mouth of yours overload that pea-brain.
539136
Because we had our own internal turmoil and a short war with France.  Yes, we lost those lands shortly after the Alamo (1836) and before your civil war (1861-65).
100731
The Mexican Cession is a historical name for the region of the present day southwestern United States that was ceded to the U.S. by Mexico in 1848 under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo following the Mexican-American War. The cession of this territory from Mexico was a condition for the end of the war. For the 38 years between 1810, when Mexico declared its independence from Spain, and 1848, the region had formed approximately one-third of the territory of Mexico; prior to that, it had been a part – albeit a remote one, largely without European settlement – of the Spanish colony of New Spain for some three centuries.\n\nIt includes all of the present-day states of California, Nevada, and Utah, as well as the portions of:\n\nArizona excluding the region later annexed in the Gadsden Purchase \nColorado west of the boundary of the former Republic of Texas \nNew Mexico west of the Rio Grande and excluding the Gadsden Purchase \nWyoming west of the former Republic of Texas boundary and south of the 42nd parallel. \nThe treaty also specified the U.S.-Mexican border as being at the Rio Grande (Río Bravo del Norte). Previously the portion of Texas between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande had remained disputed throughout the existence of the Republic of Texas. The United States had already claimed the area as part of the Texas Annexation in 1845.
529567
OK thats a good question ... up to now I do agree with Gonzalez... I hate to tell you this mi amigo Hayleylov but it is true that there was a big part of land that was taken (NOT Conquered)that is known as US territory now. It is on many US History books and Predator maybe you should take a look before telling someone to read history without reading it yourself first.Pain and blood had run through the US street as well. Back in the time there were the indians who were forced to become "The Guests" of their OWN LAND and the worst part is that they still suffering the damage that this society have done to them. A fair land??? Yes it was fair for the ones that took the Land and worked the slaves. I mean common people this country was build on many people's pain and it continues to be that way until we stop to THINK whats really a GOOD REASON to treat humans that bad (Is power a good reason?) . Otherwise, kingdoms collapse like many did back on time. The pain will continue even if they legalize millions of people (mexicans, asians, cubans etc) it doesnt matter if the racism and hate still spreads around. What difference will it make????  \nPlus this country is based on immigration LEGAL or ILLEGAL you' all got here someway or another dindt ya?... So pleeeeeeeease stop being such close minded and be realistic for once before making comments. And do whatever you want to do with illegals as long as you do it as a ONE NATION UNDER GOD. Peace =)
551399
Mexico was trying to seak independence from spain. But Spain won't allow it. At one time Spain comes to Mexico to check on their followers and they revolt.  They had it to show Spain that they will fight for their freedom.  Mexico was very outnumbered by the Spainiards but they still won the war, on the 5th of May. This is why they celebrate Cinco De Mayo.