1. Was The U.S. Mexican War Just
Day 2

2. Agenda March 20th 2017
Do Now: Answer this question in your notebook: Based on the information you gathered in your pairs on Monday what evidence did you find that best supported your argument that the war was just or unjust?
Complete discussion of your views of whether the U.S. Mexican war was a “just” war in your team.
Share information with opposite team about the whether the war was just.
As a team come to a group consensus on your views of the Mexican War and fill in the box labeled consensus.
Add information on treaties and purchases the U.S. made with Mexico to the boxes.
Complete writing prompt on whether the U.S. could have followed another policy.
HW: E.Q. sheet due March 23, 2017
Test: March 23,2017
Writing prompt due for homework.

3. Just war debate part 2
Teams meet again to finalize gathering evidence from last class for your positions on whether the U.S. Mexican war was just.
Meet up with the opposite team to finalize filling in the charts.
Large groups (pro/con teams) discuss their personal views regarding whether the U.S. Mexican War was just.
In the consensus box come to an agreement on their views of whether the U.S. Mexican war was “just” and write why or why not in the box.

4. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Ended the U.S. Mexican war in 1846.
U.S. received California, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona as a spoil of war.
Forced Mexico to accept these terms and paid $15 million for land.
Put this information in the pro war column.

5. GADSDEN Purchase
U.S. paid $10 million for land in New Mexico and Arizona.
Mexico agreed to the sale of the land.
U.S. now owns all of the land in the contiguous(48 states except Alaska and Hawaii).
Put this information in the anti-war side.

6. Writing prompt
Based on the documents presented in this activity it appeared that Polk and O’Sullivan wanted the United States to go to war even though they could have bought territory from Mexico as happened in the Gadsden Purchase. You are a presidential advisor and you are writing a recommendation to President Polk. Provide a policy recommendation for future presidents about an effective policy to pursue should the United States desires additional land during Polk’s term in office.
Write from the perspective of 1845.
Your view of an effective policy to gain land from future territorial gains by U.S. during Polk's term (go to war with other nations or purchase land via treaties).
Two pieces of evidence from the documents to support your view.
Turn in at the end of class.