Was the Mexican War an exercise in American imperialism?

Answer 1

Yes the Mexican was was an exercise in American Imperialism. The US government believed firmly in the doctrine of Manifest destiny, the government argued that they had the right and duty to expand through North American because it was necessary and inevitable. During the 19th century Mexico dominated a large amount of North America which was inhabited by American settlers and the American government aimed to expand the USA from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and were ready to achieve this by any means. The American government saw the lands of Texas and California as grand prizes with the opportunity of lush agricultural prospect and the possibility of a gateway to the Pacific Ocean. The lands though belonged to the nation of Mexico, which seen by the Americans was a backward nation and did not deserve to have the lands. President James Polk intended to use full extent of his power to expand America and he devoted his time during his reign as President in negotiations with Mexico over the lands of California.

Answer 2

No because the US was nothing close to an empire at that time, and it would not gain an overseas empire until defeating Spain in the Spanish-American War fifty years later. It was, however, a territorial and expansionist war. The US wanted Alta California and Nuevo Mexico to complete its vision of "sea to shining sea," and Mexico refused to sell. The war began in Texas, but California was the prize.