Is there any historical precedent for using military force to alter borders in North America?

Yes, there are several historical precedents for using military force to alter borders in North America. These instances involve conflicts and territorial expansions driven by military action, often resulting in significant changes to national boundaries. Below, I outline key examples based on the provided search results and supplemented by well-documented historical events.

Key Historical Precedents

• The Mexican-American War (1846-1848): This conflict resulted in a major territorial shift in North America. Following the annexation of Texas by the United States in 1845, tensions escalated over disputed territory between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande. President James K. Polk ordered U.S. troops under General Zachary Taylor to advance into the contested area, provoking a military response from Mexico. The ensuing war ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, through which the U.S. acquired vast territories, including present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and parts of New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming—approximately half of Mexico’s territory at the time. This use of military force directly altered borders, expanding U.S. territory at Mexico’s expense 5.

• The Texas Revolution (1835-1836): Prior to the Mexican-American War, the Texas Revolution saw American settlers and Tejanos in Mexican Texas revolt against Mexican rule. Military engagements, culminating in the Battle of San Jacinto, led to the establishment of the Republic of Texas as an independent entity. Although not immediately altering U.S. borders, this conflict set the stage for Texas’s annexation in 1845, which was a precursor to further border changes through military means. The search results note subsequent cross-border raids and reprisals, highlighting ongoing military tensions that shaped territorial claims 5.

• U.S. Attempts to Invade Canada (War of 1812, 1812-1815): During the War of 1812 between the United States and Britain, the U.S. made several attempts to invade and potentially annex Canadian territory, then under British control. The search results mention the limitations of the U.S. militia, which could not cross national borders, disrupting plans for invasion. Although these efforts failed and no permanent border changes occurred, the intent to use military force to alter North American borders was evident. Battles such as those at Detroit and Niagara demonstrated U.S. ambitions to expand northward, though British and Canadian resistance preserved the existing boundaries 7.

• Cross-Border Raids and Instability (19th and Early 20th Centuries): The search results highlight a history of cross-border raids by various groups, including Native American tribes, bandits, and revolutionaries along the U.S.-Mexico border. These actions often prompted U.S. military responses, such as the 1829 incident involving Captain Bennet Riley’s incursion into Mexican territory to rescue traders, which did not result in border changes but underscored the use of military force in border regions. Additionally, events like the Norias Ranch Raid (1915) involved combined civilian and military forces combating transborder criminal activity, illustrating a precedent for military involvement in border disputes, though not directly altering borders 15.

Context and Implications

These precedents demonstrate that military force has been used in North America to alter or attempt to alter borders, primarily driven by expansionist policies, territorial disputes, or responses to instability. The Mexican-American War stands as the most significant example of a successful border change through military action, while the War of 1812 reflects an unsuccessful attempt to redraw boundaries. Cross-border military engagements, while not always resulting in territorial shifts, highlight a recurring pattern of using force to address border-related conflicts.

It’s worth noting that these historical actions occurred in contexts vastly different from today’s geopolitical landscape, where international law, treaties, and alliances (such as NATO and the United Nations) play a significant role in deterring unilateral military actions to change borders. The precedents, however, establish a historical basis for such strategies in North American history.

Citations:

1. https://americarenewing.com/issues/policy-brief-the-u-s-military-may-be-used-to-secure-the-border/
2. https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/d/declarations-war-authorizations-use-military-force.html
3. https://www.hsaj.org/articles/138
4. https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/LSB10121
5. https://www.armyupress.army.mil/Portals/7/combat-studies-institute/csi-books/Matthews_op22.pdf
6. https://www.heritage.org/border-security/report/how-the-president-can-use-the-us-military-confront-the-catastrophic-threat
7. https://www.rand.org/pubs/tools/TL238/tool.html
8. http://peacemagazine.org/archive/HardeningBordersandMilitarizat.htm
9. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/end-military-operations-us-mexico-border
10. https://cha-shc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/5c38a87c593f8.pdf

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