International Borders Have Always Been Centers Of Conflict, And

the U.S.-Mexican border is no exception. With the European colonizing
the New World, it was a matter of time before the powers collided. The
Spanish settled what is today Mexico, while the English settled what
is to day the United States. When the two colonial powers did meet
what is today the United States’ Southwest, it was not England and
Spain. Rather the two powers were the United States and Mexico. Both
Counties had broken off from their mother countries. The conflict that
erupted between the two countries where a direct result of different
nation policies. The United States had a policy of westward expansion,
while Mexico had a policy of self protection. The Americans never had
a written policy of expansion. What they had was the idea of “Manifest
Destiny.” Manifest Destiny was the belief that the United States had
the right to expand westward to the Pacific ocean. On the other hand,
Mexico was a new country wanting to protect itself from outside
powers. Evidence of U.S. expansion is seen with the independence of
Texas from Mexico. The strongest evidence of U.S. expansion goals is
with the Mexican-American War. From the beginning, the war was
conceived as an opportunity for land expansion. Mexico feared the
United States expansion goals.

During the 16th century, the Spanish began to settle the region.

The Spanish had all ready conquered and settled Central Mexico. Now
they wanted to expand their land holdings north. The first expedition
into the region, that is today the United States Southwest, was with
Corando. Corando reported a region rich in resources, soon after
people started to settle the region. The driving force behind the
settlement was silver in the region. The Spanish settled the region
through three major corridors; central, western and eastern. The first
settlements were mainly through the central corridor. The Spanish went
thorough what is now the modern Mexican state of Chihuahua into the
U.S. state of New Mexico. Eventually the Spanish established the city
of Santa Fe in 1689. The eastern corridor was through modern day Texas
and led to the establishment of San Antonio. The eastern expansion was
caused by the French expansion into modern day Louisiana. The Spanish
crown wanted a buffer between the French in Louisiana and central
Mexico. The last corridor of expansion was in the west, through the
sea, which led to the establishment of San Diego in 1769 and Los
Angles in 1781.

The Spanish were not the only European power to colonize the new
world; French, English and the Dutch also settled North and South
America. The Spanish and the French settled what is present day
U.S.-Mexico border region. The French settled modern day U.S. midwest,
while the Spanish settled present day Mexico and U.S. southwest. As
time went on, European influence in the region diminished.. The French
sold there claims to the United States, in 1803 with the Louisiana
Purchase. Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821. Once the
United States bought the Louisiana Purchase, western expansion began.

This set the stage for major conflict in the region.

The United States gained independence from England in 1775.

After 1775, the Americans started to expand west. By the time Mexico
gained independence, the United States had reached the Mexican
frontier. Mexico needed to protect its northern borders. To protect
the border region, Mexico needed to populate the area. Mexico
continued the policy started by Spain of allowing Americans to settle
Texas. The Americans had to follow Mexican law, religion and customs.

The settlement of Texas played into the United States’ expansion
plans.

Eventually Mexico City closed Texas from more Americans from
entering. This angered the Americans wanting to enter and Americans
already living in Texas. Texas revolted from Mexico in 1833. Mexicans
did live in Texas, and fought for the independence of Texas. The
majority of Texans were Americans and fought for their independence.

After the war the Americans intentionally or non-intentionally forced
most Mexicans out of Texas. The ones that stayed faced racial tensions
that continue to today.

After gaining independence from Mexico, Texas wanted to join the
United States immediately. The U.S. Congress voted against Texas from
joining the Union. Congress was worried that annexation of Texas would
anger Mexico. Mexico had never officially recognized Texas as
independent. Congress was concerned that annexation would start a war
with Mexico. Mexico’s repose to American annexation was not the only
factor in deciding against annexation. If Texas was to become a state,
it would be a slave state. At the time, the United States an even
balance between slave and non-slave