Mexican American War DBQ
“Evaluate (Agree, disagree and why) whether President James Polk’s decision to go to war with Mexico was in the
interest of the United States of America.
Document A
President Polk (1846)
Expansionist President of the US during the war.
The grievous wrong perpetrated by Mexico upon our citizens throughout a long period of years remain undressed,
and solemn [claims] treaties pledging her public faith for his redress have been disregarded. A government either unable
or unwilling to inforce the execution of such treaties fails to perform one of its plainest duties.
Instead of this, however, we have been exerting our best efforts to propitiate her good will. Upon the pretext that
Texas, a nation as independent as herself, thought proper to unite its destinies with our own, she has affected to believe
that we have severed her rightful territory, and in official proclamations and manifestos has repeatedly threatened to make
war upon us for the purpose of reconquering Texas. In the meantime, we have tried every effort at reconciliation.
The cup of forbearance had been exhausted even before the recent information from the frontier of the [Rio
Grande] Del Norte. But now, after reintegrated menaces. Mexico has passed the boundary of the US, has invaded our
territory, and shed American blood upon American soil. She has proclaimed the hostilities have commenced, and that the
two nations are now at war.
Document B
New York newspaperman John O’Sullivan
O’Sullivan is the expansionist reporter who coined the phrase “manifest destiny.â€
Away, away with all these cobweb tissues of rights of discovery, exploration, settlement, contiguity, ect… The
American claim is by the right of our manifest destiny to overspread and to possess the whole of the continent which
Providence has given us for the development of the great experiment of liberty and federative self-government entrusted
to us. It is a right such as that of the tree to the space of air and earth suitable for the full expansion of its principle and
destiny of growth… it is in our future far more then in our past or in the past history of Spanish exploration or French
colonial rights, that our True Title is to be found.
Document C
Miguel Barragan, Dispatch on Texas Colonists (October 31, 1835)
Barragan is a Mexican writing about the American-Texan attitude towards Mexico/Mexicans in 1835.
For a long time the ungrateful Texas colonists have made fun of the national laws of Mexico; disregarding the fact that
Mexico gave them a generous welcome and kept them close to our bosom; dispensing to them the same-and even
more-benefits than to our sons.
Everytime we have had internal agitation they have thought the Republic weak and impotent to control their
excesses. These have multiplied intensely, producing insults again and again against the whole of our National Arms.
To the Texas colonists, the word MEXICAN is, and has been, an execrable (being inferior/less than) word. There
has been no insult or violation that our countrymen have not suffered, including being jailed as “foreigners†in their own
country.
All this has reached the point where the flag of rebellion has been raised; the Texans aspiring shamelessly to take
over one of the most precious parts of our land. Accomplices to this wickedness are adventurers from the state of
Louisiana who foment disturbances and give necessary support to the rebels. The civilized world will not delay in
pronouncing the judgment they deserve for this infamous and detestable conduct. The Supreme Government knows its
duties and knows how to execute them.
The Government believes that not one Mexican worthy of his country will favor the treason of foreign rebels, but
that if such a misfortunate exists, the power and duty of punishing him lies in your hands.
God and Liberty!
Document D
Charles DeMorse Gives a Texan’s View of the War with Mexico (1846)
DeMorse is an American-Texan calling on former Americans to fight the Mexican army.
At last we have a real “sure enough†war on hand: something to warm the blood and draw out the national
enthusiasm. It seems that the “Magnanimous Mexican Nation†has at last come out of its chaparral of wordy diplomacy,
treachery, meanness and bombast, and concluded for a little while, quickly with the though- an opportunity to pay off a
little of the debt of vengeance which has been accumulating since the Massacre of the Alamo.
We trust that every man of our army, as he points his rifle and thrusts his, bayonet, will think of his countrymen
martyred at the Alamo, Goliad, and at Mier, whose blood yet cries aloud from the ground for remembrance and
vengeance, and taking a little closer aim or giving a little stronger thrust, will give his blow in his country’s cause and an
additional “God Speed.â€
Document F
Resolution drafted by Charles Sumner (1847)
Sumner is an American politician arguing against the Mexican-American War
Resolved, That the present war with Mexico has its primary origin in the unconstitutional annexation to the
United States of the foreign state of Texas while the same was still at war with Mexico; that it was unconstitutionally
commenced by the order of the President, to General Taylor, to take military possession of territory in dispute between the
United States and Mexico, and in ‘ the occupation of Mexico; and that it is now waged ingloriously by a powerful nation
against a weak neighbor unnecessarily and without just cause, at immense cost of treasure and life, for the dismemberment
of Mexico, and for the conquest of a portion of her territory, from which slavery has already been excluded, with the triple
object of extending slavery, of strengthening the “Slave Power,” and of obtaining the control of the Free States, under the
Constitution of the United States.
Resolved, That such a war of conquest, so hateful in its objects, so wanton, unjust, and unconstitutional in its
origin and character, must be regarded as a war against freedom, against humanity, against justice, against the Union,
against the Constitution, and against the Free States; and that a regard for the true interests and the highest honor of the
country, not less than the impulses of Christian duty, should arouse all good citizens to join in efforts to arrest this gigantic
crime, by withholding supplies’, or other voluntary contributions, for its further prosecution; by calling for the withdrawal
of our army within the established limits of the United States; and in every just way aiding the country to retreat from the
disgraceful position of aggression which it now occupies towards a weak, distracted neighbor and sister republic.
Resolved, That our attention is directed anew to the wrong and “enormity” of slavery, and to the tyranny and
usurpation of the “Slave Power,” as displayed in the history of our country, particularly in the annexation of Texas and the
present war with Mexico….
Document G
Mexican general Mariana Arista’s advice to the soldiers of the U.S. Army (1846)
Arista is calling on American soldiers to desert the American army and join the Mexican cause.
It is to no purpose if they tell you, that the law for the annexation of Texas justifies your occupation of the Rio
Bravo del Norte; for by this act they rob us of a great part of the Tamaulipas, Coahuila, and New Mexico; and it is
barbarous to send us a handful of men on such an errand against a powerful and warlike nation. Besides, the most of you
are Europeans, and we are the declared friends of a majority of the nations of Europe. The North Americans are ambitious,
overbearing, and insolent as a nation, and they will only make use of you as vile tools to carry out their abominable plans
of pillage and rapine.
If, in time of action, you wish to espouse our cause, throw away your arms and run to us, and will embrace you as
true friends and Christians. It is not decent nor prudent to say more. But should any of you render important service to
Mexico, you shall be accordingly considered and preferred.
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