Last Best Hope of Earth

Author: Last Best Hope of Earth

  • Rehearsal for the Civil War

    57250b8435090-image
    Depiction of the Mexican-American War. Artist Unknown.

    Some historians have classified the Mexican-American War as a rehearsal for the Civil War, which would erupt approximately 15 years later.

    (more…)

  • Dissent Between Two Presidents

    buchanan-lrg
    James Buchanan.

    Leading up to President James Polk’s May 13, 1846 announcement of the Mexican-American War, tension arose between President Polk and the Secretary of State, James Buchanan.

    (more…)

  • The Reception of the Mexican-American War

    hon-_garrett_davis2c_ky_-_nara_-_528757
    Garrett Davis. By: Mathew Brady.

    Following President James Polk’s announcement of war with Mexico, and Congress’ declaration of war, those in the Whig Party and those around the country had significantly different views of the war.

    (more…)

  • Negotiating with Mexico

    john_slidell_-_nara_-_528280
    Congressman John Slidell. By: Mathew Brady.

    In the fall of 1845, prior to the Mexican-American War, President James Polk attempted to use what he perceived as leverage to negotiate with the Mexican government to expand American borders.

    (more…)

  • The Start of the Mexican-American War

    war_news_from_mexico
    War News From Mexico. By: Richard Caton Woodville.

    On the evening of April 24, 1846, Captain Seth Thornton and 68 American dragoons “went to confirm intelligence that a Mexican military force had crossed the Rio Grande” just miles away from where Brigadier General Zachary Taylor was camped. Daniel Walker Howe, What Hath God Wrought: Transformation of America, 1815-1848, 731.

    (more…)

  • The Oregon Question

    0814-oregon-territory
    A Depiction of the Oregon Territory in 1848.

    Following the Democrats’ victory in the Election of 1844, President James Polk began negotiating with the British about the Oregon territory, which America had permitted Britain to occupy for several decades. See Daniel Walker Howe, What Hath God Wrought: Transformation of America, 1815-1848, 715.

    (more…)

  • Constitution Sunday: “Philanthrop” to the Public

    “Philanthrop” to the Public

    American Mercury (Hartford), November 19, 1787

    Following are excerpts from an article in the American Mercury, located in Hartford, Connecticut:

    “Let us for a moment call to view the most specious reason that can be urged by the advocates for anarchy and confusion, and the opposers to this glorious Constitution, and see what weight a rational man could give (more…)

  • The Most Effective President

    1-james-k-polk-inauguration-granger
    Inauguration of James Polk. By: Granger.

    James Polk, after winning the Election of 1844, set an agenda for what he hoped to accomplish during his presidency. Rather than elaborate on this agenda during his inaugural address, President Polk instead remained secretive. See Daniel Walker Howe, What Hath God Wrought: Transformation of America, 1815-1848, 708.

    (more…)

  • The Whigs’ Manifest Destiny

    william_ellery_channing_by_henry_cheever_pratt_1857
    William Ellery Channing. By: Henry Cheever Pratt.

    The Whigs had their own approach to interpreting manifest destiny, and that approach mainly applied to shaping America’s foreign policy.

    (more…)

  • Manifest Destiny

    demrevcontentspage
    The Democratic Review Magazine.

    While many Americans would come to embrace manifest destiny, the idea that America would achieve its imperial destiny and dominate the continent, it was not a politician or president who coined the term. Rather, it was coined in 1845 in New York’s Democratic Review magazine. See Daniel Walker Howe, What Hath God Wrought: Transformation of America, 1815-1848, 702-03.

    (more…)