1. How should President Trump respond?
Aim: Was the United States justified in declaring war on Mexico in 1846?
Do Now: Imagine that China has just ordered its military to line up on our soil.
How should President Trump respond?

2. What caused the Mexican-American War?

3. The annexation of Texas:
In the 1820s, Americans began moving into Texas looking for cheap land to farm.
American settlers brought slavery to Texas even though the 1824 Mexican constitution declared slavery illegal.

4. When the Mexican government tried to end slavery in Texas, the Texans started a war for independence.
The US supported Texas by providing arms and supplies to the Texan rebels.
By 1836, Texas gained its independence from Mexico. In that same year, Texas asked the US to annex it (add) as a State.
In 1845, Texas became the 28th state.
Mexico reacted by cutting off all diplomatic relations with the U.S (talks and trade)

5. Border Dispute: The Border is at the Nueces River!
The U.S. government claims that the Rio Grande marks the southern border of Texas.
The Mexican government rejects this idea and argues that the real border is the Nueces River
The Border is at the Nueces River!
The Border is at the Rio Grande!

6. The war starts....
President Polk sent an official to negotiate with Mexico. The US wanted to:
Come to an agreement on the border of Texas
Purchase the California and New Mexico
The Mexican Government refused to speak with the American official sent by Polk
President Polk felt offended and ordered American troops to occupy the Rio Grande
Mexico saw this as an invasion and Mexican soldiers opened fire killing 9 American soldiers
In 1846, President Polk asked Congress to declare war on Mexico.

7. Task: Was the United States justified in declaring war on Mexico in 1846?
Read the two documents and identify the argument of each author.

8. Was the United States justified in declaring war on Mexico in 1846?
Not justified
What do YOU think???

9. Create a newspaper headline
Write an informational paragraph about how the Mexican-American War started.

10. Was the United States justified in declaring war on Mexico in 1846?
Closure:
Was the United States justified in declaring war on Mexico in 1846?