Changes

1. Identify two of the most important outcomes of the Mexican War.  

1. Identify two of the most important outcomes of the Mexican War.  

First was the laying down of the boarder between the United States and Mexico on the Rio Grande River. Second was the massive amounts of land seized from Mexico which supported the Manifest Destiny ideals of the time.

First was the laying down of the boarder between the United States and Mexico on the Rio Grande River. Second was the massive amounts of land seized from Mexico which supported the Manifest Destiny ideals of the time.

4. Why were there so many one-term presidents in the 1840s and 1850s? Explain.  

4. Why were there so many one-term presidents in the 1840s and 1850s? Explain.  

Due to the political tensions of the period the country was almost halved by the issue of slavery and as such it was easy to understand how quickly a president could lose popularity in the country. Due to the two-party system that the United States had a newly elected president had half of the country against them from the start. They would proceed to lose support from their own party due to the lack of being able to live up to the goals of the party they supported. James K. Polk was a rare exception during those times as he did accomplish everything he set out to do.

Due to the political tensions of the period the country was almost halved by the issue of slavery and as such it was easy to understand how quickly a president could lose popularity in the country. Due to the two-party system that the United States had a newly elected president had half of the country against them from the start. They would proceed to lose support from their own party due to the lack of being able to live up to the goals of the party they supported. James K. Polk was a rare exception during those times as he did accomplish everything he set out to do.

7. "Remember the Alamo!" Why?  

7. "Remember the Alamo!" Why?  

The phrase refers to the famous battle of the Alamo in 1821 when a Mexican Army slaughtered approximately 165 Texans defending the fort. The loss of the Alamo inspired the Texans to fight for their freedom and shortly after Texas wrote its declaration of independence  from Mexico and established itself as the “Lone Star Republic.”  

The phrase refers to the famous battle of the Alamo in 1821 when a Mexican Army slaughtered approximately 165 Texans defending the fort. The loss of the Alamo inspired the Texans to fight for their freedom and shortly after Texas wrote its declaration of independence  from Mexico and established itself as the “Lone Star Republic.”  

8. The biggest question in all of American History is this: Do you think it was possible to avoid the Civil War? If so, how?  

8. The biggest question in all of American History is this: Do you think it was possible to avoid the Civil War? If so, how?  

While there can be an infinite set of ideas to avoid the war, I believe the chances of any of those theories coming through and being successful to be improbable. From these 18 years I have been alive I have learned that in the case of right and wrong it is rare for evil to be removed without some kind of struggle. I have seen this and experienced it in the smallest of quarrels to the greatest of international crisis’s. It is foolish to believe that something as dividing and costly as 3.5 million slaves could be reconciled in a peaceful manner. Eventually there would have to be a conflict, the question shouldn’t be whether it could have been avoided but how those involved could have reduced the damage of the fallout.

While there can be an infinite set of ideas to avoid the war, I believe the chances of any of those theories coming through and being successful to be improbable. From these 18 years I have been alive I have learned that in the case of right and wrong it is rare for evil to be removed without some kind of struggle. I have seen this and experienced it in the smallest of quarrels to the greatest of international crisis’s. It is foolish to believe that something as dividing and costly as 3.5 million slaves could be reconciled in a peaceful manner. Eventually there would have to be a conflict, the question shouldn’t be whether it could have been avoided but how those involved could have reduced the damage of the fallout.

Debate: Is it ever justified for a President to lie to Congress to accomplish a goal sought by Americans?

Debate: Is it ever justified for a President to lie to Congress to accomplish a goal sought by Americans?

To answer this question I ask another: Can lying ever be justified? On the basis of moral character I think it is impossible to allow such an action. The end does NOT justify the means and if anyone should be held to that statement it should be our president. Such an action with a person of his status and responsibility should be unheard of.

To answer this question I ask another: Can lying ever be justified? On the basis of moral character I think it is impossible to allow such an action. The end does NOT justify the means and if anyone should be held to that statement it should be our president. Such an action with a person of his status and responsibility should be unheard of.

Debate: Do you think the South could have won the Civil War, or at least fought off the North enough to secede?

Debate: Do you think the South could have won the Civil War, or at least fought off the North enough to secede?

After examining the forces at the beginning of the campaign the only true method of the south winning the war was for them to hold out until they could rally international help. The north however had numbers and better equipment and could win a war of attrition. Also there is one factor to consider; why they fought. The south fought to keep their economy free from taint and to protect their work force. The North however saw this as something more important. They fought to secure their God blessed union and to abolish slavery from the United States. While the south fought for economic freedom, the north fought for a cause they knew was just.  

After examining the forces at the beginning of the campaign the only true method of the south winning the war was for them to hold out until they could rally international help. The north however had numbers and better equipment and could win a war of attrition. Also there is one factor to consider; why they fought. The south fought to keep their economy free from taint and to protect their work force. The North however saw this as something more important. They fought to secure their God blessed union and to abolish slavery from the United States. While the south fought for economic freedom, the north fought for a cause they knew was just.  

James.G

James.G