Understanding Arguments For and Against the War

Question

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)
“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).
“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 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.).
“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).
The U.S. government tried to use diplomacy to resolve the problem, but Mexico would not cooperate.The president believed that God wanted the United States and its ideals to expand to more places.The United States wanted to teach Mexico a lesson and show the whole world that the U.S. could not be bullied.Mexico invaded the United States and killed its citizens. Mexico started the war.

Answer 1

To evaluate the claims made by each quote and match them to the appropriate arguments supporting U.S. justification for going to war with Mexico in 1846, we can break down each piece of evidence:

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 Supported: Mexico invaded the United States and killed its citizens. Mexico started the war.

2. “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 Supported: The United States wanted to teach Mexico a lesson and show the whole world that the U.S. could not be bullied.

3. “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 Supported: The U.S. government tried to use diplomacy to resolve the problem, but Mexico would not cooperate.

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 Supported: The president believed that God wanted the United States and its ideals to expand to more places.

Overall, each piece of evidence correlates with specific claims that collectively justify U.S. actions in the war with Mexico, emphasizing invasion, diplomacy, punitive measures, and the belief in Manifest Destiny.

Answer 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)
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“…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.).
“...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).
“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).
The president must have known that he did a terrible thing. He should feel deep guilt and shame over this war.The American people did not want this war. Clearly, the war was started as an excuse to spread slavery.The president was trying to start a fight with Mexico, and purposely set Mexico up to take the blame for starting the war.The United States picked on a weaker country to try to grab more land, doing the same things to Mexico that European countries once tried to do to U.S.
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Answer 3

Here are the pieces of evidence matched to the claims that argue against the justification for the U.S. war with Mexico in 1846:

1. “…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 Supported: The United States picked on a weaker country to try to grab more land, doing the same things to Mexico that European countries once tried to do to the U.S.

2. “...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 Supported: The president must have known that he did a terrible thing. He should feel deep guilt and shame over this war.

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 Supported: The American people did not want this war. Clearly, the war was started as an excuse to spread 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 Supported: The president was trying to start a fight with Mexico and purposely set Mexico up to take the blame for starting the war.

These matches articulate a strong critique of the motivations behind the war and the moral choices involved.