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The Rio Grande River

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General Zachary Taylor

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I believe that this war is necessary. The land America would gain would be very useful for farming and we have tried to negotiate with Mexico about the boarder but they refused. When we stationed troops on the North bank of the Rio Grande "Mexico invaded our territory and shed American blood upon American soil.” Mexico has showed an act of war towards America and I intend to win it.

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I think that this war is not worth fighting.  I believe that the only reason the president started the war was because he wants to expand slavery in Texas. "The determination of our slaveholding President to prosecute the war, and the probability of his success in wringing from the people men and money to carry it on, is made evident, . . . None seem willing to take their stand for peace at all risks; and all seem willing that the war should be carried on in some form or other."

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Boarder Disagreements with Texas and Mexico Results in War

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Boarder Disagreements with Texas and Mexico Results in War

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Texas and Mexico were arguing over where their boarder was. Texas claimed it is the Rio Grande river, but Mexico insisted on the Nueces river. The distance between the two rivers totals to more than 100 miles at some points so, many thousands of miles were at stake for each side of the potential borders. John Slidell, a Spanish speaking ambassador,  was sent to offer Mexico $25 million for Texas, California, and New Mexico, But Mexico denied the offer. President Polk then ordered General Zachary Taylor to station troops on the North bank of the Rio Grande. Mexico then stationed troops on the southern bank. On April 25 Mexican troops crossed the river and ambushed an American patrol and killed or wounded 16 American soldiers. When news spread to Washington, President Polk wrote a war message to Congress and two days later Congress declared war on Mexico. Many people questioned the need for war. Slavery has also become an issue because many slave owners saw expansion in Texas as an opportunity to spread slavery.