How the United States grew to the Pacific: Texas, Oregon, the Mexican Cession and the Gadsden Purchase
Grade 8 Social Studies Worksheet - Building Confidence
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Texas and the border question, 1836 to 1847 (cards A to D). Card A, the joint resolution of Congress annexing Texas, March 1, 1845 (spelling as printed; cuts marked): "… said state to be formed, subject to the adjustment by this government of all questions of boundary that may arise with other governments; …" Card B, an unsigned article arguing for annexation in the United States Magazine and Democratic Review, July–August 1845, long credited to its editor John L. O'Sullivan (some historians now credit Jane McManus Cazneau) (spelling as printed; cuts marked): "… the fulfillment of our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions." Card C, President James K. Polk's message to Congress asking for war, May 11, 1846 (as printed; cut marked): "Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory … upon the American soil." Polk's sentence goes on to say that fighting had begun. In the same message Polk wrote that the Congress of Texas, by an act of December 19, 1836, had declared the Rio del Norte (the Rio Grande) the boundary of Texas, and that on April 12, 1846 a Mexican general told General Taylor to retire beyond the Nueces River. Card D, a summary in our words: on December 22, 1847 Abraham Lincoln, then a U.S. representative from Illinois, introduced resolutions asking the President to tell the House the exact spot where the fighting Polk described took place, whether the people of that settlement had ever submitted to the government or laws of Texas or the United States, and whether the American soldiers there had been sent by the President's military order.
Card C is President Polk's message asking Congress for war. What is it best evidence for, Ari asks?
- What the Mexican government believed about the border in 1846
- How the President explained and justified the war to Congress
- How historians today judge the war's causes and who began it
- A neutral, complete record of exactly what happened at the border
Card B argues for annexation in a magazine. How does that purpose shape its wording, Luz asks?
- It lists the exact location of the Texas border, river by river, for readers
- It uses grand words about destiny to persuade readers that expansion is natural
- It warns readers that annexation would be a mistake and urges them to resist
- It reports a decision Congress had already rejected, in a neutral news report
Cards A and C both touch the Texas boundary. How do they differ in how they treat it, Tala asks?
- Card C says the boundary was the Nueces River, and card A names it too
- Both cards say Mexico had agreed to the Rio Grande as the boundary line in 1845
- Card A names the Rio Grande, and card C leaves the boundary to later adjustment
- Card A leaves boundary questions open; card C treats the Rio Grande as the line
Card C reports a Texas claim to the Rio Grande and a Mexican general's order to retire beyond the Nueces. What do the two show together, Jun asks?
- The treaty of 1848 had already fixed the border at the Rio Grande by that date
- The sides placed the border at different rivers, so the land between was disputed
- Mexico had already agreed that the Rio Grande was the border, as Texas claimed
- Polk contradicts himself, so card C can be ignored as evidence of the dispute
A student writes: "Card C proves Mexico started the war." How strong is that claim, given cards C and D, Pia asks?
- Strong: card C says the fighting was on American soil, so Mexico crossed the line
- Strong: card A shows Congress backed Texas, so Mexico must have started the fighting
- Weak: card D says Mexico did not cross any river, so it did not start the fighting
- Weak: card C is Polk's own account, and card D has Lincoln questioning the location
To learn how the Mexican government explained its border claim in 1846, which source is best, Milo asks?
- A modern summary of the war and its causes written for school students
- The magazine article in card B, which argues for annexation in plain words
- Official statements and letters of the Mexican government from 1845 and 1846
- Polk's message to Congress in May 1846, which asked for war against Mexico
Card D came after card C (May 11, 1846 to December 22, 1847). About how long was the gap, Zee asks?
- About 19 days, a very short time, so Lincoln questioned the account right away
- About 19 months, but Lincoln wrote his resolutions before Polk sent his message
- About 19 months, long enough for Lincoln to question the account after the fact
- About 7 months, since May to December is 7 months, so Lincoln wrote fast
A student says: "Card B shows all Americans wanted to expand." How strong is that claim, given cards B and D, Ren asks?
- Strong: card B says "our manifest destiny", so the whole nation agreed on expansion
- Strong: card A shows the vote for annexation was unanimous in both houses of Congress
- Weak: one unsigned article shows one argument, and card D shows Lincoln's doubts
- Weak: card B argues against annexing Texas, so it shows no support for expansion
Card B is unsigned, and historians disagree about its author. How should that affect how Esme uses it?
- Use it as an argument printed in 1845, without naming its author
- Treat it as the view of Mexico's government, since it discusses Mexico
- Throw it out, since no one is sure who wrote it or what he believed
- Treat it as the official policy of the United States, since it is in print
Texas declared the Rio Grande its boundary on December 19, 1836 (card C). Congress voted to annex it on March 1, 1845. About how many years apart, Noah asks?
- Just over 8 years, so the claim was long-standing before annexation
- About 8 months, a brand-new claim
- About 18 months, since 1845 minus 1836 is 18
- Under a year, since Texas claimed the line as soon as it was annexed