What you turn in for this portfolio?
A short essay...maybe 3-4 paragraphs long where you get to make a decision... Was the Mexican-American War justified? That means do YOU think it was RIGHT or DESERVING (like was there a legitimate reason) for the war? To evaluate whether the Mexican-American War was justified, you need to consider the perspective of each side.
What steps do you need to do first?
You will want to first review the info about the war in your lessons, the online textbook (American History) and the links in the directions below (Source A - E). As long as you use the textbook, lessons and the sources below, I will not require you to CITE sources. But if you use the internet to find out more information, then you do want to cite whatever you use.
Consider finding out this info before you decide if the war was justified or not:
What are the basic facts of the war...where did it happen, when did it happen, why did it happen...
What did the Texans do?
What was the perspective of Texans and what was the perspective of Mexicans?
What started the conflict between the Texans and Mexico?
What was the result of the war?
What allowed settlers to establish a colony in Texas?
How did the interaction between the settlers in Texas and the Mexican government develop and change over time?
On what things might the Mexican government and the Texas settlers agree?
How might your essay look?
Paragraph 1--- Introduction and thesis (talk about the war a bit and explain when it happened and where it happened and state if you think it was or was not justified. Make sure to give at least 2 reasons for why YOU think it was or was not justified.
Paragraph 2- this is where you go into detail about the first reason you think the war WAS or WAS NOT justified. This needs to be more than 2-3 sentences long.
Paragraph 3- this is where you go into detail about the 2nd reason you think the war WAS or WAS NOT justified. This needs to be more than 2-3 sentences long
IF YOU have more than 2 reasons for why it was justified (or not), make sure to have each reason have its own paragraph and make sure to support your reason with examples of why.
To complete this portfolio, you need to start by reviewing the information about the Mexican-American War in your lessons, online textbook (American History), and the provided sources. It is important to gather the basic facts of the war, such as where and when it happened, as well as why it occurred. Additionally, you should consider the perspective of both Texans and Mexicans during this time and what led to the conflict between them. Understanding the result of the war and how the interaction between the settlers in Texas and the Mexican government developed over time is also crucial.
Once you have gathered this information, you can begin structuring your essay. The essay should be 3-4 paragraphs long and start with an introduction stating your thesis. In this thesis, you should state whether you believe the war was justified or not and provide at least two reasons to support your position.
The following paragraphs should then delve into each individual reason in detail. If you believe the war was justified, one paragraph should focus on explaining your first reason for this belief, supported by examples and evidence. The same should be done for the second reason. It is important to ensure that each paragraph is more than just a couple of sentences long.
If you have additional reasons for your stance, make sure to provide each reason its own dedicated paragraph. Again, remember to support your reasons with examples and evidence. It may also be helpful to mention any areas of agreement between the Mexican government and the Texas settlers to provide a well-rounded analysis.
Overall, your essay should include an introduction with a thesis, at least two paragraphs detailing your reasons for the war being justified (or not), and potential additional paragraphs for any other reasons you may have. Support each reason with evidence and examples to make a compelling argument.