oked the fact that there were already inhabitants on the lands to which they migrated, because American ideology and Protestant/Christian ethics were considered far superior than those of any Mexican or Native Americans living on the continent. Manifest Destiny did not dictate violent conflict necessarily, and the U.S. twice offered to purchase California from Mexico, but the Mexican government remained opposed to selling its Northern territory to a neighbor which it considered a growing threat. America understood the significance of California as a gateway port to the Orient as well as a jewel to other nations, like Britain or France, who might wish to secure it for their own ends. As such, America tried arranging a mutual pact for California among Britain, Mexico and itself, “The proposed plan was that Mexico would recognize Texas independence, Oregon would be settled at the Columbia River, and in return England would use her influence with Mexico to cede Upper California to the United States. The U.S. would pay several million dollars for California, part going to American claimants against Mexico and the rest to the English bondholders” (Faulk and Stout, Jr. 26-27).
Further exacerbating matters between the two countries and governments was the Texas War of Independence. The eventual annexation of that territory by the United States greatly accelerated the move of the two countries towards war. After Texas revolted in 1835, several violent conflicts ensued and Santa Anna, President of Mexico, was captured and held prisoner in Texas. Even though he was forced to sign the Treaty of Velasco, which granted Texas independence in 1836, many Texans refused to honor the legitimacy of this document. Bloody border conflicts continued, a fact which began to cause many Americans to empathize with U.S. Texans and develop a negative stereotype toward Mexicans. In 1845, mainly because of continued conflicts with Mexico, Texas gaine...