Which of these quotes from the text BEST helps support the idea that the United States was justified in fighting the Mexican-American War?
A.
Other Americans thought it was wrong to use war to take land from Mexico.
B.
Polk started by trying to buy the land. He sent an American diplomat, John Slidell, to Mexico City to offer $30 million for it. But the Mexican government refused to even meet with Slidell.
B. Polk started by trying to buy the land. He sent an American diplomat, John Slidell, to Mexico City to offer $30 million for it. But the Mexican government refused to even meet with Slidell.
This quote suggests that the United States attempted peaceful means to acquire the land, but Mexico refused to negotiate, justifying the use of force.
Which of these quotes from the text BEST helps support the idea that the United States was not justified in fighting the Mexican-American War?
A.
…Ulysses S. Grant…would later call the war "one of the most unjust ever waged by a stronger against a weaker nation. It was an instance of a republic following the bad example of European monarchies, in not considering justice in their desire to acquire additional territory."
B.
Polk…declared, "[Mexico] has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon American soil," and sent the order for war to Congress on May 11.
A. ...Ulysses S. Grant... would later call the war "one of the most unjust ever waged by a stronger against a weaker nation. It was an instance of a republic following the bad example of European monarchies, in not considering justice in their desire to acquire additional territory."
This quote suggests that the United States' actions in the war were unjust and motivated by a desire for land rather than a justified cause.
To determine which quote from the text best supports the idea that the United States was justified in fighting the Mexican-American War, we need to consider the context of the war and the reasons put forward by both sides.
Quote A states that "Other Americans thought it was wrong to use war to take land from Mexico." This quote does not support the idea that the United States was justified in fighting the war, as it suggests that there was opposition to using war as a means to acquire Mexican land.
Quote B, on the other hand, provides more relevant information. It states, "Polk started by trying to buy the land. He sent an American diplomat, John Slidell, to Mexico City to offer $30 million for it. But the Mexican government refused to even meet with Slidell." This quote implies that the United States made a reasonable attempt to acquire the land diplomatically through negotiations and a monetary offer, but Mexico rejected it outright. This could be seen as a justification for resorting to military action if peaceful means had been exhausted.
Therefore, quote B - "Polk started by trying to buy the land. He sent an American diplomat, John Slidell, to Mexico City to offer $30 million for it. But the Mexican government refused to even meet with Slidell" - is the quote from the text that best supports the idea that the United States was justified in fighting the Mexican-American War.