DocumentA:JohnOSullivanAnnexationSpeech

DocumentB:WarMessageofPresidentJamesPolk
DocumentC:AMexicanViewpointontheWarwiththeUnitedStates
DocumentD:CharlesSumner:ObjectiontotheMexicanAmericanWar
DocumentE:1847U.S.ArmyRecruitmentPoster
DocumentF:SpeechbyAbrahamLincolntotheU.S.HouseofRepresentatives,1848
DocumentG:StephenKearneysSpeechtothePeopleofNewMexico,August1846

HookExercise

Document E

Source:
http://www-tc.pbs.org/kera/usmexicanwar/images/primary_sources/poster_toarms_xl.jpg

Document Analysis
1. WhydoyouthinkthereisaneagleincludeddirectlybeneaththephraseToArms!ToArmson
therecruitmentposter?

2. WhatdoesthephrasePromptlyorderedontotheseatofwarwithoutthepossibleinterventionof
anyauthoritybyPresidentPolkmeantopossibleArmyrecruits?

3. Whatismeantbythephrase...andthearkofAmericanrightswillmovegloriouslyforward?
Whywouldthisbeincludedinarecruitmentposter?

4. Howdoesthisdocumenthelpanswerthequestion:WastheU.S.justifiedingoingtowarwith
Mexico?
Document F

Speech by Abraham Lincoln to the US House of Representatives January, 1848

ThePresident,inhisfirstwarmessageofMay1846,declaresthatthesoilwasoursonwhichhostilities
werecommencedbyMexico,andherepeatsthatdeclarationalmostinthesamelanguageineach
successiveannualmessage,thusshowingthathedeemsthatpointahighlyessentialone.Inthe
importanceofthatpointIentirelyagreewiththePresident

LetthePresidentanswerthe[questions]IproposedAnd,if,soanswering,hecanshowthatthesoil
wasourswherethefirstbloodofwarwasshedthatitwasnotwithin[another]countrythenIam
withhimButifhecannotorwillnotdothisthenIshallbefullyconvincedofwhatImorethan
suspectalreadythatheisdeeplyconsciousofbeinginthewrong;thathefeelsthebloodofthis
wariscryingtoHeavenagainsthim

Document Analysis
1. AccordingtoLincoln,whydidPresidentPolkbelievehewasjustifiedingoingtowarwithMexico?

2. ForLincoln,whatwastheessentialquestionthathadtobeansweredregardingtheoutbreakof
warwithMexico?WhydoyouthinkthismatteredsomuchtoLincoln?

3. Howdoesthisdocumenthelptoanswerthequestion:WastheUnitedStatesjustifiedingoingto
warwithMexico?

Document G

Stephen Kearneys Speech to the People of New Mexico, August 1846

**StephenKearneywastheAmericangeneralsenttotakeNewMexicoandCaliforniafortheUnited
StatesduringtheMexicanWar.

Mr.AlcaldeandthePeopleofNewMexico:Ihavecomeamongstyoubyordersofmygovernment,to
takepossessionofyourcountryandextendoveritthelawsoftheUnitedStates.Weconsiderit,and
havedonesoforsometime,apartoftheterritoryoftheUnitedStates.Wecomeamongstyouas
friends,notasconquerors.Wecomeamongyouforyourbenefit,notforyourinjury

FromtheMexicangovernmentyouhaveneverreceivedprotection.TheApachesandNavajos
[southwestNativeAmericantribes]comedownfromthemountainsandcarryoffyoursheep,andeven
yourwomen,whenevertheyplease.Mygovernmentwillcorrectallofthis.ItwillkeepofftheIndians,
protectyouinyourpersonsandyourproperty;andIrepeat,willprotectyouinyourreligionMy
governmentrespectsyourreligionasmuchastheProtestantreligionandallowseachmantoworship
hisCreatorashishearttellshimisbest.ItslawsprotecttheCatholicaswellastheProtestant;theweak
aswellasthestrong,thepooraswellastherich

Document Analysis
1. WhoisStephenKearneyandwhywashesenttoNewMexico?

2. WhatchallengesarethepeopleofNewMexicofacing?Bespecific

3. WhatwilltheUnitedStatesgovernmentdoforthepeoplelivinginNewMexico?Bespecific.

4. Howdoesthisdocumenthelptoanswerthequestion,WastheUnitedStatesJustifiedingoing
towarwithMexico?

DBQ Scoring Rubric

1. Intro paragraph effectively grabs the readers attention and provides historical
context/background for the essay.
0
1
2
3

2. Claim/Thesis statement directly responds to the prompt and provides three distinct, clear reasons
for argument.
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1
2
3
4
5

3. Each paragraph contains a topic sentence that directly relates to the thesis.
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1
2
3
4

4. Each body paragraph references and cites at least 2 (TWO) specific pieces of documentary
evidence that are relevant to the topic.
0
1
2
3
4
5

5. Documentary evidence is accurately and thoroughly explained.

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1
2
3
4

6. Explanation of evidence shows reasoning that supports an argument clearly linked to thesis/topic
sentence.
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1
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3
4
5
**This score will be multiplied by 2 in the final grade**

7. Essay reflects overall accurate and thorough understanding of the historical period addressed in
the DBQ prompt.
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1
2
3
4
5

8. Concluding paragraph summarizes main points and effectively closes the argument.
0
1
2

9. Essay shows evidence of proofreading with minimal grammar and spelling errors.
0
1
2
3
4
5

TOTAL: __________/45 points