LAD #13: Polk's War Message

Summarize:

President James K. Polk expressed his original desire to make peace with Mexico through friendly arrangements by sending an American envoy to negotiate with the Mexican government. However, when the messenger was ignored and Mexican troops killed several Americans on US soil, he changed his stance on the conflict and began promoting a war between the two countries. This envoy, John Slidell, was commissioned to establish a border between America and Mexico, and to request Mexico to stop attacking American citizens, therefore, the failure of his mission meant a continuation of those problems. Additionally, the Mexican leader's decision to ignore their pledge to President Polk to receive an American ambassador, created additional conflicts between the two nations. Polk also touches upon how he had previously sent troops towards Mexico to counteract the threat of a Mexican invasion. At this point the United States had already considered Texas part of the union and took great offense at Mexico's insistence of possessing the area. Lastly, Polk explains that because Mexico had already destroyed any chance of trade between the two countries, there was little incentive to keep a peaceful relationship between the two.

The first battle of the Mexican American War, the Battle of Palo Alto
Declaration of War of 1812
When James Madison penned the declaration of war of 1812, it had many of the same aspects as James Polk's war message. For example, both documents listed America's grievances, or reasons for going to war, and outlined the events leading up to the declarations.

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