Polk started out 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. Polk grew frustrated. Determined to acquire the land, he sent American troops to Texas in January of 1846 to provoke the Mexicans into war. When the Mexicans fired on American troops in April 25, 1846, Palk...declared, "[Mexico] has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon American soll, and sent the order for war to Congress on May 11. The act was a questionable one. Many Northerners believed that Polk, a Southerner, was trying to gain land for the slaveholding South. Other Americans simply thought it was wrong to use war to take land from Mexico. ...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 jessice in their desire to acquire additional territory."
Which 2 quotes from the text BEST help support the idea that the United States had good reasons for fighting the Mexican-American War? (2 points)
Polk started out 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.
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.
Determined to acquire the land. [Polk] sent American troops to Texas in January of 1846 to provoke the Mexicans into war.
Other Americans simply thought it was wrong to use war to take land from Mexico.
The two quotes that best support the idea that the United States had good reasons for fighting the Mexican-American War are:
1. "Polk started out 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 shows that the United States initially tried peaceful means to acquire the land, demonstrating their willingness to negotiate and avoid conflict.
2. "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." This quote highlights the perception of the United States that Mexico's actions were an invasion of their territory and an attack on American soil, thus justifying their decision to go to war in self-defense.