<p>"The opponents of the annexation of Texas and the Mexican War attacked slavery as the root cause of expansion, but in fact it was no more important than other causes."</p>
<p>-What does this quote mean and what are the two sides that I can choose to write about?</p>
<p>Bump?!?!. :(</p>
<p>I think the quote is trying to say that slavery was the main reason why U.S. dealt with Texas and Mexico, and I have to choose to side with either slavery was in fact the main reason or it was not the main reason. Is this correct?</p>
<p>I am sorry. My comprehension is very low. It took me a while to figure this whole thing out. So is my explanation right? If it is, then I want to argue that it was, in fact, the main reason that the U.S. dealt with Texas and Mexico.</p>
<p>If that's the essay topic, then it should say something like "discuss the validity of this statement" If thats it then you could argue that slavery was the only reason, or that there were others(ie Manifest Destiny, etc.) </p>
<p>but like i said, im not sure if thats what you want</p>
<p>
[quote]
If that's the essay topic, then it should say something like "discuss the validity of this statement" If thats it then you could argue that slavery was the only reason, or that there were others(ie Manifest Destiny, etc.) </p>
<p>but like i said, im not sure if thats what you want
[/quote]
Thanks for replying. Yes, it does say "assess the validity of this statement." So basically I can write about how slaver was the not the main reason but rather Manifest Destiny was the underlying motivation for expansion?</p>
<p>Also, you mentioned that I can talk about "slavery was the only reason..." But you didn't say slavery was the only reason for what?...Is it expansion?</p>
<p>meh there was lots of stuff. quick brainstorm you could come up with...slavery, manifest d, need for more room bc of overcrowding, maybe they actually thought mexico was a threat(ha)</p>
<p>
[quote]
meh there was lots of stuff. quick brainstorm you could come up with...slavery, manifest d, need for more room bc of overcrowding, maybe they actually thought mexico was a threat(ha)
[/quote]
These were reasons why U.S. expanded west? Or annexed Texas? Can you make it more clear?</p>
<p>a little bit of both (expanding and annexing texas). the support of leaders in Congress like Crockett, etc made it difficult to ignore annexing. also, Texas was prime land for cotton and other crops...another reason for annexing it. so you would use the documents (be sure to use at least half!) to say, although slavery was important, esp to Southerns, it was not the sole cause of Texas' annexation. Texas also was prime crop land. You could also discuss manifest destiny (a tad bit early for the Turner Thesis), the fact that Mexico was oppressing Texans and the US "came to the rescue". I don't have a lot of knowledge on the subject but, yeah, something like that.</p>
<p>how would you answer this question when it asked you to "assess the validity of the statement"? How about for the question "to what extent" or "account"? how would you answer those?</p>
<p>For "validity" you would either say that there were other reasons, or that it was mostly slavery. You argue that slavery was the main reason, but make sure you point at the other arguments, and to make your essay stronger, tear them down. Say how Texas was good land for cotton, etc. and then you can say that this was just another part of the slavery issue.</p>
<p>Thanks guys. This just saved me hours of research. I know what to write now. :)</p>
<p>Will this introduction suffice? How is the thesis statement?</p>
<pre><code>During the mid-19th century, territorial and economic expansion began to take form in the United States. At first, expansionists wanted to see the U.S. extend its borders westward all the way to the Pacific and southward into Mexico. Although slavery was one underlying cause for expansionism during this time period, it was certainly not the root cause of expansion but rather it was Manifest Destiny, nationalism, population increase, and reform ideals.
</code></pre>
<p>That sounds good to me. But are you going to be able to talk about all 4 of those causes in the time that we are given to write the DBQ? I just took a practice one where the question was something like "During the mid 19th century, there were many reform movements that tried to promote and extend the ideals of democracy. Asses the validity of this statement using the events that occured between 1825-1850." I said that the reform movements: religious revitalization, women's rights, and education had the purpose of extending the ideals of democracy but in fact were not successful.
I had to end up leaving out the entire education part because I didn't have time. So, just from my experience, trying to discuss that many causes is quite ambitious and I know I would have trouble finishing it. But it definetly is a good introduction and thesis.</p>
<p>Is four paragraphs enough? I can't write five paragraphs... :(</p>