In 1848, Mexico and America signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo which ended the Mexican American war and gave America the current states of California, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Arizona. The war lasted only two years, however, the violence started even before then. The hostilities began in 1835. A war erupted between Mexico and Texan rebels, a war in which the Battle of the Alamo was fought. This violence between Americans and Mexico which began in 1835, and lasted until 1848, can be seen as both a revolt and as a war of empire.

After Mexico had gained it's independence from Spain in 1821 it doubled its size with the addition of Texas. With the countries border so far from its capital of Mexico City, and because of threats to that boarder, Mexico desperately needed people to colonize its new territory. It allowed the passage of several hundred American colonists into the Mexican territory of Texas, which soon became predominately American, many of whom were slave owners. When an 1835 amendment to the Mexican constitution prohibited slavery and reduced the power of state government, Texans revolted and declared independence from Mexico. Although the Texas Republic was not yet part of America, it was comprised of mostly Americans and not only had America attempted to purchase Texas, many Texans wanted America to annex it. Also, just days after Texas seceded America recognized its independence. It is in this respect that the quarrel between Americans and Mexico can be argued to be a revolt. Their main motivations were to escape a tyrannical government who had made radical changed to their constitution.

Alternatively, these quarrels between Mexico and Americans can also be viewed to be a war of empire. After Texas gained it's independence, Mexico did not recognize its sovereignty, but many Texans and Americans wanted the annexation of Texas into the Union. Mexico warned the United States that it would be considered a declaration of war if it accepted Texas as a State in the Union, which it did late in 1845. When troops sent to secure the Texan boarder were killed in what is referred to as the Thornton Affair, a declaration of war was approved. When examining the details of this war, it can be clearly seen that America had empirical motivations.

Firstly, Democrats, who strongly supported expansion and manifest destiny, approved the war, while most Whigs did not. The president at the time was James K. Polk, who was a Democrat. Added to this was the fact that Texas was a slave state, so most southerners who owned slaves wanted another slave state in the union for leverage, so they approved the war as well. Even before the war began, President Polk offered to buy land in California and New Mexico, which Mexico refused, so America already had empirical aspirations. American wanted this land because not only did it want a sea port on the pacific ocean it also did not want to lose the territory to Britain.

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