HIST 105 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Wilmot Proviso
Document Summary
Polk goes to congress says the us has been invaded. Willing to go and request war even before mexico crossed rio grande. As close to war of aggression as us got. Argument on behalf of expansionism: divisive issue, not everyone is on board therefore. What does he offer as justification to extend boundaries? putting in terms of a god-given we need to get people on board destiny pumped up) Powerful rhetoric: follow the will of the divine. Rhetoric goes over well because of 2nd great awakening (people are religiously. Has to do with the issue of slavery. Proviso or amendment to another bill: says slavery is to be prohibited in any areas taken from mexico. Doesn"t apply to texas because it"s a state already. Again, federal gov can"t tell states what to do. Territory: any territory subject to federal jurisdiction. Continual struggle between free and slave states.