The war between the United States and Mexico that took place from the year 1846 to 1848 holds varied opinions amongst the historiographies. Many hold the opinion that Mexico is to blame and that President Polk’s was right when he said that the Mexicans had left the U.S. no alternative other than to defend its national interests. The Mexican opinion has been forgotten and more often than not, the forgotten side holds the true story. Apart from the Mexicans, few people still see the war from the Mexican perspective. From analyzing many articles, one will realize that the war was actually started by the U.S.
Those holding the opinion that Mexican started the war forget that there was a treaty signed in the year of 1828. The treaty was referred to as border treaty, it conceded Mexico as the dominion over Texas state. (Rejon, 1844). Therefore U.S. annexation of Texas whether by treaty or U.S. Congress resolution was seen as an act of declaring war. By welcoming Texas to be part of the U.S. states, the U.S. had gone against the agreement. Such an act was considered as an infringement of the international law. In addition, it put Mexican border in fear that most of its states could be annexed just like the way Texas was.
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The use of newspapers and articles to prove that Mexico was thirsty for war, without understanding the message being conveyed is being chauvinistic. It is true that the Mexican people were divided. One half wanted Mexico to declare war against Texas and conquer it using arms while the other half supported the government negotiation. In the end they all merged and started a campaign against Texas and decided not to declare war against the U.S. Truth be said, the newspapers stated that Mexico would do anything to stop the U.S. from appropriating Texas (El Siglo, 1845), but all these was a way of saying that Mexico will protect their borders no matter what happened. They did not declare war, instead, they were protecting their interests (Black, 1845). Also, Mexico’s love for peace was displayed when President Manuel de la Peña y Peña opted for negotiation in October 1845.
To clearly show that it is the United States that started the war, they sent a commissioner, Slidell, whose aim was to notify the Mexican negotiators of the annexation of Texas and to ask Mexico to give up rights of Texas state. The United States refused to modify the terms of negotiation. Furthermore, even before this, the current President, President Polk’s had asked the U.S. Congress to declare war on Mexico on terms that Mexico and crossed the U.S. border and invaded the U.S. territory. Afterwards, Polk ordered the occupation of New Mexico, California and the blocking of the Mexican ports. We clearly see that the U.S. was not trying to protect its interests as President Polk’s explained it but they were strongminded to take over part of Mexico’s territory (El Tiempo, 1846). If that is not enough, President Polk’s asked the U.S. Congress for two million in funds that will be used to make an adjustment in the border with Mexico. The act here is very clear that they were intending to forcefully acquire territory that belonged to Mexico.
I support Valasco-Márquez's argument. It is clear from the argument above that Mexico did not declare any war against the U.S. in fact, they were only protecting their borders from U.S. The evidence above proves that Mexico had no intentions of starting the war. Instead, it the United States that initiated the war.
References
Manuel Crescensio Rejón to Shannon, October 31, 1844, Bosch, op. cit., p. 352.
"Guerra con los Estados Unidos," El Siglo XIX, 20 July 1845, p. 4.
Manuel de la Peña y Peña to John Black, October 15, 1845, in Bosech, op. cit., p 599
"Parte Política," El Tiempo, 11 May 1846, p.1
