Question

questions 1 through 3 refer to the following. yes, mexico must be thoroughly chastised! the late argument wanted to prove the necessity of an immediate declaration of war by our government toward its southern neighbor. why we dallied in the face of the world in having treated mexico with more forbearance than we have ever yet treated an enemy. we have ambassadors perpetrating the american nation, and waited for years without partment of the claims of our injured merchants. we have fought peace through every avenue, and shut our eyes to many things, which had they come from england or france, the president would not have dared to pass over without stern and speedy resentment. we have damned up our memory of what had passed in the south texas years ago—of treason, matricide, of some of our bravest and noblest sons. in violation of all the rules of war. we think them can be no doubt of the truth of yesterday’s news, and we are sure the people here, ten to one are for prompt and hostilities. let our arms be cased with a spirit which shall teach the world that, while we are not forward for a quarrel, america knows how to crush, as well as how to expand. walt whitman, journalist and poet, editorial in the brooklyn eagle, 1846 president james k. polk in his message, as a pretext for ending our army to invade and conquer the country upon the rio grande, care sic by its legislative act of december 19, 1836, had declared the rio grande to be the boundary of that former independent republic. he stands to be the boundary of the nueces river as her boundary. signed upon the nueces river as her boundary. “mexico be ours, why does he seek to justify the taking possession of it by references to the fact that mexico is indebted to some of our people? if it be not ours, and he has taken possession of it in order to compel mexico to pay those debts, why not say so? the fact that mexico has not paid the debts due to our citizens can have no legitimate connection with the possession of it. it is our own soil. but the president will obstinately contend that the invasion of the mexican territory could not be justified when the executive and congress openly and avowedly took upon themselves the responsibility of extending and perpetuating slavery by the annexation of texas, and by the total overthrow and subversion of the constitution. my confidence in the stability of our institutions was shaken, destroyed. our union continues, but our constitution is gone. no more respect this war we have. we know, the country knows, and the civilized world are convinced, that it has resulted from a desire to extend and sustain an institution on which the curse of the almighty most vividly rests. joshua giddings, congressman from ohio, speech in the united states house of representatives, 1846 1. which of the following comparisons best describes whitman’s and giddings’ arguments about the mexican - american war? a whitman believed the united states should show patience before war, while giddings believed the country had tolerated abuses for too long without war. b whitman argued that the war was intended to deter bad behavior, while giddings argued that the war represented aggression by the united states. c giddings asserted that the nation entered the war as a last resort, while whitman asserted that the war was unnecessary to achieve the goals of the united states. d giddings claimed that the war had popular support in the united states, while whitman claimed that most americans opposed the war.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option:

• Option A: The text says the US "had tolerated abuse for too long without war" (from "we have tolerated...the enemy" and "we are not forward for a quarrel"), matching Whitman's view of US patience and Giddings' belief of tolerated abuse.
• Option B: Whitman's quote "we are not forward for a quarrel" contradicts "war intended to deter bad behavior"; Giddings' stance is against aggression, but Whitman's view doesn't align with "war to deter".
• Option C: Whitman's "Let our arms be armed with a spirit...to teach the world" suggests the war has a purpose (not unnecessary), so this is incorrect.
• Option D: The text has no info on "most Americans" opposing the war; Giddings' "no legitimate connection" is against the war, but Whitman's tone is more about purpose, not opposition from most.

Answer:

A. Whitman believed the United States should show patience before war, while Giddings believed the country had tolerated abuses for too long without war