Question

Primary Source - Document A:

President Polk's War Message to Congress
To the Senate and
House of Representatives:
(In an earlier message) I informed you that ... I had ordered an efficient military force to take a position "between the Nueces and the Del Norte (Rio Grande).** This had become necessary, to mect a threatened invasion of Texas by the Mexican forces... The invasion was threatened solely because Texas had determined ... to annex herself to our Union; and, under these circumstances, it was plainly our duty to extend our protection over her citizens and soil.
... The Congress of Texas, by its act of December 19, 1836, had declared the Rio del Norte to be the boundary of that repub-JiC... The country between that river and the Del Norte ….. is now included within one of our congressional districts.... It became, therefore, of urgent necessity to provide for the defense of that portion of our country....
(On the 24th of April) a party ... of sixty-three men and officers, were ... dispatched from the American camp up the Rio del Norte, on its (North) bank, to ascertain whether the Mexican troops had crossed, or were preparing to cross, the river.... (They) became engaged with a large body of these (Mexican) troops, and, after a short affair, in which some sixteen (Americans) were killed and wounded, appear to have been surrounded and compelled to surrender....
We have tried every effort at reconcili-ation. The cup of forbearance had been exhausted even before the recent information from the frontier of the Del Norte. But now, ... Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon the American soil.

Nate: War Vote, May 18, 18451
US Senate: 40 Yes, 2 No House of Rep: 174 Yes, 14 No

Directions: Analyze primary source and then use it to answer 3 questions in 2-3 full complete sentences. Answers must reflect the source provided

1. What is President Polk's overall position on the war?

2. What happened on April 24th according to Polk?

3. Did Congress decide to go to war after Polk's war message? (hint: look at the vote)

Answer 1

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

1. President Polk believed that going to war with Mexico was necessary to protect American citizens and soil, particularly in response to Mexico's invasion of American territory.

2. On April 24th, a group of American men and officers were dispatched to investigate whether Mexican troops had crossed the Rio del Norte (Rio Grande) and became engaged in a conflict, resulting in American casualties.

3. Yes, Congress decided to go to war after President Polk's war message, as shown by the overwhelming majority of votes in favor of war in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Answer 2

Primary Source - Document B:

Speech by Congressman Abraham Lincoln

That soil was not ours; and Congress did not annex or attempt to annex it.
But to return to your position: Allow the President to invade a neighboring nation, whenever he shall deem it necessary to repel an invasion, and you allow him to do so, whenever he may choose to say he deems it necessary for such purpose — and you allow him to make war at pleasure. Study to see if you can fix any limit to his power in this respect....
The provision of the Constitution giving the war-making power to Congress was dictated, as I understand it, by the following reasons. Kings had always been involving and impoverishing their people in wars, pretending generally, if not always, that the good of the people was the object. This, our convention understood to be the most oppressive of all Kingly oppressions; and they resolved to so frame the Constitution that no one man should hold the power of bringing this oppression upon us. But your view destroys the whole matter, and places our President where Kings have always stood.

Directions: Analyze primary source and then use it to answer the 3 questions in 2-3 full complete sentences. Answer must reflect the source provided

1. What was Congressman Lincoln's overall position on the war?

2. Why do you think Lincoln said the "soil was not ours"? Please explain.

3. Why did Lincoln accuse President Polk of acting like a King?

Answer 3

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

1. Congressman Lincoln's overall position on the war was critical of President Polk's actions and believed that the President should not have the power to unilaterally make the decision to go to war without the approval of Congress.

2. Lincoln said the "soil was not ours" because he believed that the land in dispute with Mexico was not rightfully belonging to the United States, and therefore should not be invaded or annexed without proper authorization.

3. Lincoln accused President Polk of acting like a King because he believed that allowing the President to unilaterally declare war and invade a neighboring nation without Congressional approval would give the President unchecked power similar to that of a King, going against the checks and balances system established by the Constitution.