Mexican War Quotes
Referring to the Mexican War:
The Polk Administration wanted War with Mexico but felt it would not have public support if the Unites States was the aggressor. So the Army was sent to the border to provoke the Mexicans to attack first. The strategy worked and President Polk had much more support since he claimed that Mexico had attacked American Soldiers and retaliation was necessary. In the aftermath of the Mexican War, the United States obtained much new territory including the Southwestern States and Mexico was destabilized.
Under the Mexican law which governed Texas at the time, slavery had been much curtailed. Austin and many others wished to expand it “to permit families to bring the necessary and indispensable house servants and laborers”
Emerson was right on both points. It was the first U. S. foreign policy effort where invading and conquering a country was much easier than dealing with it afterward.
This so far appears to be the earliest use of the now famous phrase.
Ashmun introduced this anti-war resolution during the Mexican War. This resolution failed, but Abraham Lincoln, then a Freshman Congressman voted for it
Accusing a candidate who opposed a particular war effort as a traitor and collaborator with the enemy in a campaign worked very well in the 2004 Presidential race where the Republicans painted John Kerry, a war hero, as a traitor and collaborator for opposing the Vietnam War. However, the Republicans had learned the dirty trick in middle of the 19th century from the Democrats when Stephen Douglas accused Abraham Lincoln of selling out his country because Lincoln had opposed the Mexican War. Just as Kerry lost, so did Lincoln in this Senate race, but Lincoln better armed to deal with the attacks, ran for the Presidency two years later.
Buchanan was then Secretary of State.
The Mexican War was as controversial as any war in American History. President Polk ordered action independent of the Congress, In all of American History there have been two Congressional censures of American Presidents. This was one. See {594521} for the other.
The Navaho were at constant war with their neighbors—the Mexicans and other Indian Tribes who often would capture Navaho women and children and make slaves of them. This is one of the earliest examples of the United States acting as a peacemaker.
Commenting on the Mexican War:
Ellis Island was the facility that all East Coast immigrants to America came through. Army recruiting took place right there. Irish Immigrants in particular were targeted by the army. For many Irishmen, it was a very attractive prospect. They received a clean uniform, food, and an immediate pay check and provided a security not offered in the civilian economy. However, they were immediately shipped off to Mexico for the war effort.
