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Understanding Arguments For and Against the War
Star has continued gathering evidence from primary and secondary sources to support each side of the argument. Help her evaluate the claim made by each quote.
Question 1
Match each piece of text evidence to the claim it supports about why the United States was justified in going to war with Mexico in 1846.(4 points)
Put responses in the correct input to answer the question. Select a response, navigate to the desired input and insert the response. Responses can be selected and inserted using the space bar, enter key, left mouse button or touchpad. Responses can also be moved by dragging with a mouse.
“Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon the American soil. [Mexico] has proclaimed that hostilities have commenced, and that the two nations are now at war” (President James K. Polk, 1846).
“Polk started out by trying to buy the land. He sent an American diplomat, John Slidell, to Mexico City to offer $30 million for it. But the Mexican government refused to even meet with Slidell” (PBS.org, n.d.).
“Yes: Mexico must be thoroughly chastised [punished]! Let our arms now be carried with a spirit which shall teach the world that…America knows how to crush, as well as how to expand!” (Walt Whitman, 1846)
“Polk and others saw the acquisition of Texas, California, Oregon, and other territories as part of the nation’s Manifest Destiny to spread democracy over the continent” (NCC Staff, 2023).
Question 2
Match each piece of evidence to the claim it makes about why the United States was not justified in going to war with Mexico in 1846.(4 points)
Put responses in the correct input to answer the question. Select a response, navigate to the desired input and insert the response. Responses can be selected and inserted using the space bar, enter key, left mouse button or touchpad. Responses can also be moved by dragging with a mouse.
“...I more than suspect already, that [Polk] is deeply conscious of being in the wrong; that he feels the blood of this war, like the blood of Abel, is crying to Heaven against him…” (Abraham Lincoln, 1848).
“…Ulysses S. Grant…would later call the war ‘one of the most unjust ever waged by a stronger against a weaker nation. It was an instance of a republic following the bad example of European monarchies, in not considering justice in their desire to acquire additional territory’” (PBS.org, n.d.).
“It is certainly not a popular war…its real object, the extension and preservation of slavery, no intelligent man honestly doubts…” (William Lloyd Garisson, 1847).
“[Polk] picked a fight, sending troops to occupy a disputed area of the Texas and Mexico border, and when American troops and the Mexican cavalry clashed, Polk seized the opportunity to declare war on Mexico…” (History, 2017).
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Bot GPT 4-o mini · Answer

### Question 1: Justification for the War with Mexico 1. **“Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon the American soil. [Mexico] has proclaimed that hostilities have commenced, and that the two nations are now at war” (President James K. Polk, 1846).** - **Claim:** Justification based on the idea of self-defense and protecting American territory. 2. **“Polk started out by trying to buy the land. He sent an American diplomat, John Slidell, to Mexico City to offer $30 million for it. But the Mexican government refused to even meet with Slidell” (PBS.org, n.d.).** - **Claim:** Suggests justification based on failed diplomatic attempts and the refusal of Mexico to negotiate. 3. **“Yes: Mexico must be thoroughly chastised [punished]! Let our arms now be carried with a spirit which shall teach the world that…America knows how to crush, as well as how to expand!” (Walt Whitman, 1846)** - **Claim:** Justification under the belief of national pride and a desire for expansion. 4. **“Polk and others saw the acquisition of Texas, California, Oregon, and other territories as part of the nation’s Manifest Destiny to spread democracy over the continent” (NCC Staff, 2023).** - **Claim:** Justification based on the ideology of Manifest Destiny and the desire to spread democracy. --- ### Question 2: Arguments Against the War with Mexico 1. **“...I more than suspect already, that [Polk] is deeply conscious of being in the wrong; that he feels the blood of this war, like the blood of Abel, is crying to Heaven against him…” (Abraham Lincoln, 1848).** - **Claim:** Suggests the war is morally wrong and highlights the moral responsibility for the conflict. 2. **“…Ulysses S. Grant…would later call the war ‘one of the most unjust ever waged by a stronger against a weaker nation. It was an instance of a republic following the bad example of European monarchies, in not considering justice in their desire to acquire additional territory’” (PBS.org, n.d.).** - **Claim:** Argues the war is unjust and comparable to the actions of colonial powers. 3. **“It is certainly not a popular war…its real object, the extension and preservation of slavery, no intelligent man honestly doubts…” (William Lloyd Garisson, 1847).** - **Claim:** Suggests that the true motive behind the war was to expand the institution of slavery. 4. **“[Polk] picked a fight, sending troops to occupy a disputed area of the Texas and Mexico border, and when American troops and the Mexican cavalry clashed, Polk seized the opportunity to declare war on Mexico…” (History, 2017).** - **Claim:** Accuses Polk of provocatively instigating the conflict, questioning the legitimacy of the war declaration.