Ap World History Dbq Essay

Starting off his short term as president, James K. Polk had expanded the nation by two-thirds through the addition of Texas, the Oregon boundary, and the conquest of all Mexican provinces north of 31 degrees. However, having been elected on a platform pressing for Oregon to a northern boundary of of 54 degrees 40’ and Texas to a southern boundary of the Rio Grande river, Polk came to an agreement with Britain on 49 degrees but went to war with Mexico in want of Texas, New Mexico, and California. The acquisition of Mexico was concerning because it surfaced the debate over the balance of power and slavery between the North and the South. Along with Polk’s decision, Democrats agreed in expanding territory because of their strong following of the Democratic doctrine, the Manifest Destiny, by expanding the nation’s territory through any means.

However, Whigs were not opposed to expanding territory in a non-violent way and granting “the blessings of American Liberty, even to Mexicans and Indians” (48). However, after seeing the Democratic majority agree to the resolution affirming a state of war between Mexico, many Whigs in Congress were in favor of such “war, pestilence, and famine” (47). However, Polk was “suddenly more hungry for more territory” and was able to provide the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, a treaty that granted Mexican territory to the United States in a return payment of 15 million dollars. Since this was a transaction of money and not bloodshed, the Whigs agreed. However, as Ralph Emerson said, “Mexico will poison us” and the “poison was slavery”(51). The North feared that this would grant the Southern states with too much power if these new territories became slave