Mexican-American War

Topic: Mexican-American War Date: 4/23/10 Lesson Objectives: Students will evaluate Polk’s decision to go to war with Mexico by completing a Writing RAFT Unit Questions: Level One: What are the causes, issues, and consequences of the Mexican-American War? Level Two: Mexico had an entirely different view about the war against the US. How do you know which side to believe? Who has final say on who is right about history?

“A picture is worth a thousand words”

Was the US justified going to war with Mexico? Mexican-American War Was the US justified going to war with Mexico?

Mexican-American War Causes: Support for the War: Opposition to the War: Outcome:

Resources Available Readings: Movies: Comic Strip on p. 107-109 (1) Red textbook p. 361-363 (2) Packet p. 110-113 (3) USHistory.org handout Movies: (1) BrainPop (2) Music Video (3) Safari Montage

[[Mexican-American War]] Structure: Sage and Scribe Length: 8 sentence minimum Options: James K. Polk is angrily explaining why this war was vital to the country, in spite of any opposition An anti-war and anti-slave person trying to convince people hungry for more land that this war is not good for the future of the country Someone that has “kind of lost it” struggling with the positive and negatives of this war

Topics to Consider Support and opposition to the war What the country gained Did we invade another country? Would Mexico tell this story differently?

Finish the Sentence… This war was/wasn’t worth fighting because…