Question

Source: "Mr. Polk's War," A Patriot's History of the United States. Schweikart and Allen, 2002

Answer 1

Answer:

Find the explanation below.

Explanation:

1. The passage explains the conflicts and disagreements that existed between the Mexicans and Americans before the start of the Mexican-American war. The two nations failed to agree on a defined boundary for Texas. The following statement supports this fact, "In 1844, annexation was negotiated between Texas and the U.S. with an important wrinkle: the  southern boundary was the Rio Grande. This border had been rejected by the Mexican Congress in  favor of the Nueces River farther north." This disagreement formed the basis of the war.

2. The United States was not justified in going into war with the Mexicans. The measures Polk used in resolving this matter appears deceitful and not straightforward. Placing military presence in California when the two nations had not agreed to terms and even offering bribe to an exiled dictator, were not good ways of reaching to terms.