To Justify War or Not to Justify War? That Is the Question
Rodjanét Williams
History 101
Professor Saul Panski
April 22, 2013
To Justify War or Not to Justify War? That is the Question On May 11, 1846, James K. Polk delivered his address to Congress requesting a Declaration of War on the Republic of Mexico. President Polk justified his war by saying in his message that Mexico had attacked American troops and invaded the United States. He also brought up the issue that initially brought about all of the tensions between the U.S. and Mexico, which was the Mexican government had not been cooperative in negotiations over the Texas boundary. Polk, as well as most of the rest of Americans at this time, saw the declaration of war as a legitimate and natural expression of America’s Manifest Destiny, which will be later explained. The question remains, however, was Polk’s declaration of war on Mexico really necessary, let alone justified? Was peace what he really wanted, or was his true intention just to acquire more land and expand the U.S. westward as fast as he could? President Polk did appear to have taken several steps to try to avoid an armed conflict with Mexico. First, Polk tried to reopen diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Mexico by sending an envoy, Mr. John Slidell of Louisiana, invested with full powers to make adjustments to the current state of affairs between the two countries. He sent this envoy, seemingly, as evidence that he did not want war, but peace and harmonious engagements between the U.S. and Mexico from there on forth. At first, Mexico’s minister stated that they would be willing to receive an envoy form the U.S. under the condition that the U.S. would withdraw its naval forces from Vera Cruz. The minister said that its presence there seemed to be or could be interpreted as an “act of menace or coercion” while the results of their negotiations were still pending. In light of this arrangement, Polk had the naval forces fall back. However, upon Slidell’s arrival to Mexico, they refused to
History 101
Professor Saul Panski
April 22, 2013
To Justify War or Not to Justify War? That is the Question On May 11, 1846, James K. Polk delivered his address to Congress requesting a Declaration of War on the Republic of Mexico. President Polk justified his war by saying in his message that Mexico had attacked American troops and invaded the United States. He also brought up the issue that initially brought about all of the tensions between the U.S. and Mexico, which was the Mexican government had not been cooperative in negotiations over the Texas boundary. Polk, as well as most of the rest of Americans at this time, saw the declaration of war as a legitimate and natural expression of America’s Manifest Destiny, which will be later explained. The question remains, however, was Polk’s declaration of war on Mexico really necessary, let alone justified? Was peace what he really wanted, or was his true intention just to acquire more land and expand the U.S. westward as fast as he could? President Polk did appear to have taken several steps to try to avoid an armed conflict with Mexico. First, Polk tried to reopen diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Mexico by sending an envoy, Mr. John Slidell of Louisiana, invested with full powers to make adjustments to the current state of affairs between the two countries. He sent this envoy, seemingly, as evidence that he did not want war, but peace and harmonious engagements between the U.S. and Mexico from there on forth. At first, Mexico’s minister stated that they would be willing to receive an envoy form the U.S. under the condition that the U.S. would withdraw its naval forces from Vera Cruz. The minister said that its presence there seemed to be or could be interpreted as an “act of menace or coercion” while the results of their negotiations were still pending. In light of this arrangement, Polk had the naval forces fall back. However, upon Slidell’s arrival to Mexico, they refused to