Manifest Destiny - American Should Not Annex Texas

Westward Expansion

The following assignment consists of two parts.  Due by 12/4/1

Scoring: Part 1:  20 points max

        Part 2:   25 points max

        Total:   45 points max

Note:  This will be scored as a quiz grade

Be sure to support your answers.  

Each part presents opposing viewpoints of westward expansion into Texas.

Manifest Destiny and war with Mexico

Part 1:        http://www.homeworknow.com/uploads/baeb5e9508947d235679f1e9d1f1c81b.pdf

Viewpoint 26a   American Should Not Annex Texas by Henry Clay

                Answer the following as you read (short answer)

                        Does clay express unconditional opposition to Texas annexation?

Yes, Clay does express unconditional opposition because it would start a war which he believes should be avoided even if we could easily win. The north and South are already experiencing tensions as each are separated by opposing views over slavery. Mexico is also upset over the loss of Texas, so if America was to annex Texas, Mexico would t hen be at war with America. As other nations likewise oppose America, the chances of Mexico gaining aid from European powers such as the British or French cannot be ignored are very high. Clay doesn’t advise under any circumstance under which he would even possibly advise annexing Texas. For this reason, Clay does express unconditional opposition to Texas Annexation.

                        Why might admission of Texas into the Union lead to possible US expansion into

                        Canada according to Clay?

Because the debate over Slavery and anti-slavery, the admission of Texas into the Union would set the amount of slave states off balance which was a concept the Missouri compromise set in place. This would lead the North to then search for land to balance the power out again and this land would likely be Canada. For this reason, expansion into Canada might be possible as the amount of Slave and antislavery states must be in balance.

        Vs

        Viewpoint 26B: America Should Annex Texas by John L O’Sullivan

                Answer the following as you read (short answer)

                        How does O’Sullivan answer Mexican claims to Texas and California?

O’Sullivan answers claims to Texas saying that the process by which they seceded was legitimate and the Texan’s own doing, not the doing of the Union. The population of Texas is made up largely of colonists who have been detached from the union, but their old relations aren’t lost and there secession to the Union was inevitable as it is only natural and their right. O’Sullivan answers claims to California by pointing out that the California has already been emigrated by Americans who will populate the region meaning that any claims to California will be met with secession and independence of California from Mexico.

                        What future does O’Sullivan predict for the “Negro Race” in America?

O’ Sullivan predicts that as the country expands there is going to be a greater demand for slaves than available slaves, so the amount of slave states would diminish. He also predicts that the slaves will go down to Mexico as he believes comingling with other races is the best way for Negroes to elevate their social ranking, so it makes sense for them to move down toward Mexico. This process of social elevation through comingling can be seen in Spanish-Indian-American populations where various classes of mixed ethnicities have emerged similarly to how the Mestizos arose during the period of exploration.

Part2: http://www.homeworknow.com/uploads/b103c082a9597c8ea1054f4a606c7c65.pdf

 Viewpoint 27a: The United States must Wage War on Mexico by James K Polk

                Answer the following as you read (short answer)

                        What steps has the United States taken to avoid war, according to Polk?

To avoid the war, Polk says the United States has attempted to prevent and conflict or action that might “inflame” the Mexican people. They sent John Slidell to Mexico to attempt to negotiate with Mexico with the friendliest of dispositions.

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