Question

this is an excerpt from president james polks speech to congress on may 11, 1846. upon the pretext that texas, a nation as independent as herself, thought proper to unite its destinies with our own, mexico has affected to believe that we have severed her rightful territory, and in official proclamations and manifestoes has repeatedly threatened to make war upon us for the purpose of reconquering texas. in the meantime, we have tried every effort at reconciliation. the cup of forbearance had been exhausted even before the recent information from the frontier of the del norte. but now, after reiterated menaces, mexico has passed the boundary of the united states, has invaded our territory and shed american blood upon the american soil. she has proclaimed that hostilities have commenced, and that the two nations are now at war. based on this excerpt, what was president polks justification for seeking a declaration of war against mexico? the united states needed to expand its slave territory. polk wanted the nation to achieve its dream of manifest destiny. polk promised to annex texas when he ran for president. mexican soldiers entered the united states and attacked american soldiers.

Explanation:

To determine the answer, we analyze the excerpt: it states "Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon the American soil." We then check each option:

• The first option about slave territory expansion is not mentioned in the excerpt.
• The second option about Manifest Destiny is not referenced in the given text.
• The third option about a campaign promise is not discussed in the excerpt.
• The fourth option matches the description in the excerpt about Mexican soldiers entering US territory and attacking (shedding American blood).

Answer:

D. Mexican soldiers entered the United States and attacked American soldiers.