Question

Source: "Mr. Polk's War," A Patriot's History of the United States. Schweikart and Allen, 2002

ENT B: President Spe...
Note: In 1844, annexation was negotiated between Texas and the U.S. with an important wrinkle: the

southern boundary was the Rio Grande. This border had been rejected by the Mexican Congress in
favor of the Nueces River farther north. The U.S. then agreed to only annex Texas if Mexico agreed.
ent
ent D
On December 29, 1845, a unified Texas joined the Union as a slave state... Mexico immediately broke
ent E
off diplomatic relations with the United States. This prompted] Polk to tell the American Council in
California, Thomas Larkin, that if the revolt broke out among the Californios against the Mexican
ent
government the United States would support it.
Mexico also suspected the United States of being behind revolts in the Mexican territory that were
supported by the U.S. and President Polk.
While the military was winning early victories in the field, Pres. Polk engaged in a clever plan to
bring back exiled dictator Santa Anna from Cuba. Pres. Polk paid Santa Anna a $2 million bribe to be
the president of Mexico again and agree to a treaty favorable to the United States. This treaty would
have to include California
President Polk made clear in his diary the importance of holding military possession of California at
the time peace was made," and he intended to acquire California, New Mexico, and perhaps some
others of the northern provinces of Mexico."

What is the central idea of this document?cote evidence from text.

According to this document was the United States justified in going to war with Mexico?

Answer 1

Find the explanation below.

Step-by-step explanation:

1. The passage explains the conflicts and disagreements that existed between the Mexicans and Americans before the start of the Mexican-American war. The two nations failed to agree on a defined boundary for Texas. The following statement supports this fact, "In 1844, annexation was negotiated between Texas and the U.S. with an important wrinkle: the southern boundary was the Rio Grande. This border had been rejected by the Mexican Congress in favor of the Nueces River farther north." This disagreement formed the basis of the war.

2. The United States was not justified in going into war with the Mexicans. The measures Polk used in resolving this matter appears deceitful and not straightforward. Placing military presence in California when the two nations had not agreed to terms and even offering bribe to an exiled dictator, were not good ways of reaching to terms.