Background: In 1844 James K Polk ran for President on the platform that he would bring Texas (then an independent republic but wishing for annexation to the United States) into the Union. To do so, however, risked war with Mexico. Indeed, within one year of Polk’s inauguration he asked Congress for a declaration of war. The Mexican-American War was then and remains controversial despite the territories brought into the U.S. as a result of it.
1. President Polk, 1846 justifies war with Mexico.
The grievous wrong perpetrated by Mexico upon our citizens throughout a long period of years remain undressed, and solemn [claims] treaties pledging her public faith for his redress have been disregarded. A government either unable or unwilling to inforce the execution of such treaties fails to perform one of its plainest duties.
Instead of this, however, we have been exerting our best efforts to propitiate her good will. Upon the pretext that Texas, a nation as independent as herself, thought proper to unite its destinies with our own, she has affected to believe that we have severed her rightful territory, and in official proclamations and manifestos has repeatedly threatened to make war upon us for the purpose of reconquering Texas. In the meantime, we have tried every effort at reconciliation.
The cup of forbearance had been exhausted even before the recent information from the frontier of the [Rio Grande] Del Norte. But now, after reintegrated menaces. Mexico has passed the boundary of the US, has invaded our territory, and shed American blood upon American soil. She has proclaimed the hostilities have commenced, and that the two nations are now at war.
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