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.

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).

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.).

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)

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).

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

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.

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)

2. “[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).

3. “…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.).

4. “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).

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

Answer 1

Justifications for the War with Mexico in 1846

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

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

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

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

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Arguments Against the War with Mexico in 1846

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

2. “[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 C: The president was trying to start a fight with Mexico, and purposely set Mexico up to take the blame for starting the war.

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

4. “It is certainly not a popular war…its real object, the extension and preservation of slavery, no intelligent man honestly doubts…” (William Lloyd Garrison, 1847).

   • Claim D: The American people did not want this war. Clearly, the war started as an excuse to spread slavery.