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HIST 120 Dr. Schaffer

Primary Sources on the Mexican-American War

Questions to think about:

1. What did Mexico do that Polk says prompted him to ask Congress for a

declaration of war? What aspect of Polk’s argument does Abraham

Lincoln attack?

2. Why does Calhoun oppose the incorporation of Mexico into the United

States?

3. What differences does Calhoun see between previous US expansion and

the proposed incorporation of Mexico?

4. According to Calhoun, where can democracy thrive? In what other

source have we encountered a similar argument?

5. How has the attitude of the US government towards Native Americans

(such as the Cherokee), as evidenced by Calhoun’s statements, changed

since Andrew Jackson announced the policy of Indian Removal in

1830?

6. And finally: if, as Lincoln asserts, the declaration of war on Mexico by

the US was unjustified, why, from these sources and Ch. 14 of Out of

Many, do you think President Polk and others wanted war?

Note: President Polk and Congressman Lincoln refer to the Del Norte River.

That is another name for the Rio Grande. Refer to the map on p. 379 of Out of

Many when reading these sources.

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HIST 120 Dr. Schaffer

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HIST 120 Dr. Schaffer

Polk and Lincoln excerpts from D. Yancey, Retrieving the American Past (2007), pp. 250–53.

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HIST 120 Dr. Schaffer