LAD #10: Polk's War Message

In President Polk's war message to congress in 1846, he addressed congress about the diplomatic relations with Mexico. The United states was currently fighting mexico. However, the United States had made many attempts at diplomatic resolutions. When the American diplomats came to Mexico, the new leader, General Paredes would not recieve him. The American trading industry had once flourished by trading with Mexico. However, after Mexican hostilities, the U.S. trade and Mexican trade both suffered.
The whole dispute had started over the land that the Texas territoy occupied. Both Mexican and Texan governments had claims to the land and often fought over boundaries. It became a problem between Mexico and America when Texas was annexed as a state in 1845. Mexican troops were now entering U.S. soil and killing American citizens. The U.S. had to defend itself and its newest state by fighting, since diplomacy had not worked. Under the leadership of General Taylor, the troops had set up camp at Corpus Christi as well as just beyond the Nueces River. Taylor was also given the President's permission to use volunteers from states such as Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky.
Polk asked congress to prosecute the war and to aid the support for it, in order to get it over with more promptly. Polk believed that the more volunteers that fought, the better.