After the Mexican War of Independence, Spanish forces retreated from Mexico and left behind a vulnerable territory without any protection in its political and economic spheres. Apparently, while Mexicans had previously relied on the Spanish army for protection, all forms of trade were subject to the Spaniards. As a result, when the conflict ended in 1821, Mexico was independent but was in need of a rapid development plan and allies that would sustain the government and its people. To that end, the North provided possible solutions as the territory was not only bordering the United States but also included the vast areas of Texas and California. Additionally, aside from the Indian tribes in both sections, the Californios resided in California while the Tejanos occupied Texas.
Now, the Native tribes were never a priority for the government of Mexico as their cultures made them outsiders. Therefore, it was only the Californios and Tejanos that were relevant and both groups encompassed generations of Mexican people who changed their names to that of the lands. Hence, in the same way, Tejanos were for Texas, the Californios were for California. The problem was since the Californios, and the Tejanos did not identify with the Mexican government or the Indian tribes, they made easy targets for the United States and the idea of Manifest Destiny. In other words, as the expansion to the West was going on, the western border of the United States was to the north of Mexico and as a result, California and Texas were possible areas for settlement. As long as the two groups associated themselves with the land and not a government body, the area was ideal for invasion purposes.
Figure 1. American Progress (Foner, 2011, p. 494)
The picture covers the Manifest Destiny idea as it depicts the expansion to the west that forces the Indians and wild animals to flee from the coming of the goddess of liberty who represents the United States. However, the Caucasians follow her lead into the lands with their ploughs, oxen, carriages, and railroad as a depiction of the civilization that the settlers promise. The Californios and Tejanos do not appear since they did not stand in the way of the arriving settlers.
References
Foner, E. (2011). Give me Liberty! (3rd ed., Vol. I). New York: W.W. Norton & Company.
