LAD/Blog #13: Polk's War Message
Polk sends a war message to Congress, and starts it by saying that the conflicts which he has seen between the USA and Mexico have to be addressed. Polk envisions a diplomacy between the two neighboring countries. Because of this desire he sends out John Slidell on a mission as a diplomat who arrived at Vera Cruz on 11/30/1845. While there he intended to discuss the killing of US citizens on American soil and near the Texas boundary. Between Polk's idea and the arrival of Slidell, the old president resigns and a military leader named Paredas took over. Under the new government Slidell was not talked to or negotiated with. After this, Texas was annexed into the US from Mexico. This new land was fortified and protected. The troops there were instructed to remain peaceful unless provoked, and on April 24th they were provoked. 16 Americans were killed, and war was on everyone's mind.
The entering of the US into WW2 was very similar to the Polk's war message since in both situations the US attempted to stay as neutral as possible until provoked by the enemy.
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