1) "Care has been taken - that all our military and naval movements shall be strictly defensive. - We will not be the aggressor upon Mexico; - but if her army shall cross the [Rio Grande] del Norte and invade Texas, we will if we can drive her army to her own territory. Less than this , in good faith to Texas, I think the government could not have done. We invite Texas to unite her destinies to ours. She has accepted the invitation, upon the terms proposed . . . . and if because she has done so, she is invaded by the Mexican army, surely we are bound to give her aid in her own defense." Source: Letter from President James K. Polk to Senator William H. Haywood (August 1845).
1. What were the instructions given by Polk?
Polk is instructing the American troops to attack Mexico if they decide to cross the Rio Grande and invade Texas. He says that they are "bound to" aid Texas's defense from Mexico.
2. How do you think an American Citizen would have reacted to reading this in 1845?
An average American citizen would be pleased with this news knowing that Mexico would be cleared if they went to war with the U.S. In addition, it would lead many to want to obtain the spirit of Manifest Destiny with Mexico out of the way.
3. How do you think a Mexican citizen would have reacted to reading this in 1854?
A Mexican citizen would be shocked and probably scared for their life since they might have to fight invading American forces some day or be killed trying.
2) "At the time Mr. Slidell presented himself, the troops of the United States occupied our territory, their squadrons threatened our ports, and they prepared to occupy the peninsula of the Californias, of which the question of the Oregon with England is only a preliminary. Mr. Slidell was not received, because the dignity of the nation repelled this new insult. Meanwhile, the army of the United States encamped at Corpus Christi, and occupied the Isla del Padre; following this, they then moved to the point Santo Isabel, and their standard of the stars and stripes waved on the right bank of the Rio Bravo del Norte, opposite the city of Matamoros, blockading that river with their vessels of war. The village of Laredo was surprised by a part of their troops, and a small party of our men, reconnoitering there, were disarmed. Hostilities, then, have been commenced, by the United States of North America, beginning new conquests upon the frontier territories of the departments of Tamaulipas and New Leon, and progressing at such a rate that troops of the same United States threaten Monterey in Upper California. No one can doubt which of the two republics is responsible for this war: a war which any sense of equity and justice, and respect for the rights and laws of civilized nations, might have avoided...." Source: Proclamation of President Don Mariano Paredes y Arrillaga (April 23, 1846)"
1. What did President Don Mariano Paredes y Arrillaga say the United States has done?
He is saying that the United States have been threatening their borders and that they have not been respecting the rights of Mexico by wanting to get in a war with the nation.
2. How do you think an American Citizen would have reacted to reading this in 1845?
An American citizen might not care about the concerns of what the Mexican president has to say. Instead, they like what they may be seeing, believing that they will get more land since Mexico appears scared to go to war.
3. How do you think a Mexican citizen would have reacted to reading this in 1854?A Mexican citizen will be both upset at the news of American troops coming awfully close to Mexican-American borders, and be horrified that why would America dare to attack their lands.
1. What were the instructions given by Polk?
Polk is instructing the American troops to attack Mexico if they decide to cross the Rio Grande and invade Texas. He says that they are "bound to" aid Texas's defense from Mexico.
2. How do you think an American Citizen would have reacted to reading this in 1845?
An average American citizen would be pleased with this news knowing that Mexico would be cleared if they went to war with the U.S. In addition, it would lead many to want to obtain the spirit of Manifest Destiny with Mexico out of the way.
3. How do you think a Mexican citizen would have reacted to reading this in 1854?
A Mexican citizen would be shocked and probably scared for their life since they might have to fight invading American forces some day or be killed trying.
2) "At the time Mr. Slidell presented himself, the troops of the United States occupied our territory, their squadrons threatened our ports, and they prepared to occupy the peninsula of the Californias, of which the question of the Oregon with England is only a preliminary. Mr. Slidell was not received, because the dignity of the nation repelled this new insult. Meanwhile, the army of the United States encamped at Corpus Christi, and occupied the Isla del Padre; following this, they then moved to the point Santo Isabel, and their standard of the stars and stripes waved on the right bank of the Rio Bravo del Norte, opposite the city of Matamoros, blockading that river with their vessels of war. The village of Laredo was surprised by a part of their troops, and a small party of our men, reconnoitering there, were disarmed. Hostilities, then, have been commenced, by the United States of North America, beginning new conquests upon the frontier territories of the departments of Tamaulipas and New Leon, and progressing at such a rate that troops of the same United States threaten Monterey in Upper California. No one can doubt which of the two republics is responsible for this war: a war which any sense of equity and justice, and respect for the rights and laws of civilized nations, might have avoided...." Source: Proclamation of President Don Mariano Paredes y Arrillaga (April 23, 1846)"
1. What did President Don Mariano Paredes y Arrillaga say the United States has done?
He is saying that the United States have been threatening their borders and that they have not been respecting the rights of Mexico by wanting to get in a war with the nation.
2. How do you think an American Citizen would have reacted to reading this in 1845?
An American citizen might not care about the concerns of what the Mexican president has to say. Instead, they like what they may be seeing, believing that they will get more land since Mexico appears scared to go to war.
3. How do you think a Mexican citizen would have reacted to reading this in 1854?A Mexican citizen will be both upset at the news of American troops coming awfully close to Mexican-American borders, and be horrified that why would America dare to attack their lands.