Chapter 18 Essay Questions

1. Texas declared its independence from Mexico in 1836. Why wasn’t it annexed to the United States until 1845?

2. Why was President Polk willing to go to war against Mexico over Texas, but not against Britain over Oregon?

3. Given the great enthusiasm for territorial expansion, why did the "all of Mexico" movement fail?

4. In what way was the Mexican War a "limited" war?

5. Write your definition of aggression. Then use this definition to argue that the war against Mexico was or was not a war of American aggression.

6. Write your definition of national interest. Then use this definition to argue that the Webster-Ash-burton Treaty or the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo did or did not serve the national interests of the United States.

7. Write your definition of imperialism. Then use this definition to argue that the United States was or was not an imperialistic nation in the 1840s.

8. Rank the items in the following list as factors in the outbreak of war between the United States and Mexico: Slidell mission, Taylor’s troops on the Rio Grande, debt claims of American citizens, Manifest Destiny, Polk’s quest for California. Justify your ranking order and explain how each item contributed to the outbreak of war.

9. Rank the items in the following list as contributors to American expansion to the Pacific: land hunger, trade opportunities, suspicion of British intentions, Manifest Destiny. Justify your ranking order and explain how each item contributed to territorial expansion.

10. James K. Polk is often ranked as one of America’s "near-great" presidents. Do you agree that he should be so highly ranked? Why or why not?

11. Was the Mexican war inevitable? Was it necessary? Why or why not? What might either side have done to avoid war?

12. Explain why it is sometimes argued that the Mexican War was a major cause of the Civil War.