Why did some Americans in the north oppose the Mexican-American war?
A they thought the country was already too big
B they opposed to manifest destiny
C they saw it as a southern blonde and more slave states to the union
D they were pacifist, believing that war is never justified
The options provided partially capture the reasons why some Americans in the North opposed the Mexican-American war. However, the most accurate answer would be a combination of options A, B, and C.
A) Some Americans in the North did believe that the country was already too big and did not support the expansionist ideals underlying the Mexican-American war. They argued that acquiring more territory would stretch America's resources and dilute its democratic institutions.
B) Opposition to the concept of manifest destiny played a significant role as well. Manifest destiny was the belief that the United States was destined to expand its territory from coast to coast. Some Americans in the North viewed this belief as imperialistic and aggression towards other nations, including Mexico.
C) The acquisition of more territories through the Mexican-American war was also seen as a potential threat to the balance of power between free and slave states. Since the war could result in the expansion of the United States and the potential addition of new states, there were concerns that the new territories might become slave states, thereby increasing the influence of the pro-slavery South in Congress.
It is important to note that not all opposition to the war in the North was solely driven by pacifism. The reasons mentioned above, along with moral opposition to the war, concern for the rights of Mexicans, and skepticism about the justifications for the conflict, contributed to the opposition.