How could the Mexican War of 1846 been avoided?

Answer 1

If the British Navy had STOPPED kidnapping US Seamen on the high seas (or anywhere else) the "War of 1812" may have been avoided.

if the Americans werent touchy about being kidnapped it would of also been avoided

Answer 2

Before the US declared war on Mexico in 1846, the US made offers to buy much of the area now called the US "Southwest" and also an offer to buy the even more valuable California area. The condition added was that Mexico would recognize the Rio Grand River as the borderline between Mexico and Texas. Mexico refused the offer. In the meantime, the British in western Canada, also had at least a notion to pursue California.Could more money have been offered to Mexico to avoid a war? No one can say for sure. But on the home front their was opposition to a war with Mexico. Abolitionists saw the southwest as an area that might spread slavery, as Texas, for example, was already a slave state. In New England, anti-war sentiment was high. They had opposed the War of 1812 and at one time threatened to secede themselves. For the most part, the Whig Party in the Northeast opposed war with Mexico. As an aside, Abraham Lincoln was also not in favor of a war.

Mexico was already aggravated by the entry of Texas in the USA. The question might be boiled down to whether the Mexican dictator, Santa Ana, might try to retake Texas.

Speculation, however, cannot change the facts. Despite US home grown opposition, the US declared war on Mexico. All of what is now the US southwest and more plus California, Mexico ceded to the US and accepted $15 million from the US for the territory.