American propaganda in the Mexican–American War facts for kids

The Mexican-American War was a big conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. It was a very debated war in American history. Some people strongly supported it, while others were completely against it.

In this article, we'll look at how propaganda was used during this war. Propaganda is a way of spreading ideas or information to persuade people to think a certain way. During the Mexican-American War, both sides used propaganda to convince Americans to support or oppose the war.

Why the War Happened

The issue of slavery was a major problem in the United States. It would later lead to the American Civil War. After the War of 1812, agreements like the Missouri Compromise helped manage the slavery debate for a while. However, as the U.S. expanded westward, the question of whether new territories would allow slavery became a hot topic.

The Texas Revolution led to Texas breaking away from Mexico. When Texas joined the United States, it caused a big problem with Mexico. For the U.S., adding Texas meant adding another slave territory. For Mexico, the main issue was that they didn't agree that Texas was truly independent. President Polk, who wanted the U.S. to expand its land, sent troops into areas where the border was unclear. Mexico also sent troops, leading to fights along the border. These clashes started the war. The war also showed how divided the U.S. was, which would lead to the Civil War about 15 years later.

People Who Supported the War

Many people created propaganda to support the Mexican-American War. Some believed in expanding slavery, while others supported the idea of "Manifest Destiny." Manifest Destiny was the belief that the United States was meant to expand across North America. Pro-war messages came from ordinary citizens and even President Polk himself.

President Polk's first speech after becoming president is a good example. Even though it was a year before the war, his words set the stage for the conflict. He talked about Texas joining the U.S. He said that it was a matter only for the U.S. and Texas to decide. He also claimed that the U.S. was not trying to conquer land. Instead, he said that adding Texas would spread peace and open new markets for trade. He also argued that it would protect the U.S. border and make the country stronger.

Polk tried to convince Americans that Texas was once part of the U.S. He also wanted other countries, especially European nations and Mexico, to see the annexation as a peaceful move, not an act of aggression. He appealed to Americans by saying it was for self-defense and would strengthen the country's system of government.

People Who Opposed the War

The movement against the war was mostly made up of people who were against slavery. Famous figures like Henry David Thoreau and Abraham Lincoln were part of this group.

Thoreau's essay, "Civil Disobedience," is a well-known example of anti-war propaganda. Thoreau refused to pay a tax because he was against the Mexican-American War. He even spent time in jail for this. While in jail, he wrote "Civil Disobedience." In his writing, he argued that the war was unfair and called for people to oppose it.

Many newspapers across the country also criticized the war. A lot of these newspapers were against slavery. Some, like the Anti-Slavery Bugle, said the Mexican War was a war of conquest. Others, like the Vermont Watchman and State Journal, claimed that Americans were being tricked into the war with false reasons.

Abraham Lincoln, who was a Representative in the U.S. House at the time, argued that President Polk had lied about how the war started. Lincoln said that the first fights happened in a disputed area, not on land that clearly belonged to the U.S. He believed that Polk was wrong to claim the land was American.

Lincoln's argument was supported by many members of the U.S. House. They voted to criticize President Polk for starting what they called an illegal war. This action became another way for the Whigs and other anti-war groups to spread their message.