The Mexican War and Polk
Wednesday May 13, 2009
On May 13, 1846, the United States declared war on Mexico. The declaration came as a result of Mexican troops crossing the Rio Grande onto American soil. President James Knox Polk stated that, "Mexico's aggression had shed American blood on American soil." Polk intended to take Mexican territory in California by force. Polk was considered the best wartime president up to his time.
Comments
I like your comments on the war. With Texas being a state, the dispute was over which river was going to be the southern border of the state. Mexico claimed the northern one and U.S. claimed the southern one. I completely agree with your comment about Polk being the best war president up to that time, since the last war president was Madison and we know how he did in a war.
The real question about Polk is: was he the maker of policy or a follower of the mob.