• What if Henry Clay had been elected president instead of James Knox Polk? How might events during the administration have turned out differently?

• What if Congress had not been able to agree on a compromise that led to the annexation of Texas?

Review the CLASSROOM TIPS FOR USING ANY VIDEO CHAPTER .

Locate Mexico, Texas, New Mexico, California and Oregon on THE U.S.-MEXICAN WAR MAP.

Compare presidents Andrew Jackson, "Old Hickory," and James K. Polk, "Young Hickory." What were their interests in U.S. expansion?

Why did immigrants come to the U.S. from other countries in the mid-19th century? What were some of the economic, social and political pressures that forced them to leave their homelands? What are some of the reasons immigrants come to the U.S. today?

Review the Texas revolt and issues raised in the U.S. about Texas annexation. Keep in mind tensions between states that supported or opposed slavery. Link issues to the approval process of the Articles of Confederation.

Study the Monroe Doctrine in terms of what it meant as Polk faced the possibility of war with Britain and with Mexico.

Review the history of Native Americans who lived in the borderlands. Which tribes migrated or were relocated from other parts of the continent?

Web Search and Analysis

Research information about James K. Polk and U.S. presidents who served before him. What traits did Polk share with these men and their backgrounds? In what ways were his background and experiences different?

The National Portrait Gallery
http://www.npg.si.edu/col/pres/index.htm

The Presidents of the United States
http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/glimpse/presidents/html/ presidents.html

Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents of the United States
http://www.cc.columbia.edu/acis/bartleby/inaugural/index.html

Analyzing for Understanding

• Read Polk's Annual Message to Congress on the front page of the replica of the "Niles Register," in the STUDENT'S ACTIVITY PACKAGE.

• Compare Polk's view of U.S. expansion found in the Annual Message to Congress with the quote by Mexican minister, General Juan N. Almonte found in the STUDENT VIEWING FOCUS SHEETS for this video chapter.

Map and Writing Activity

Ask students to draw a map or mark on THE U.S.-MEXICAN WAR MAP. Have them offer alternative solutions for how different cultures, including Native Americans, could live together in the western lands.

Advanced Classes

Consider the level of international involvement and interest during the mid-19th century. Britain was in tense negotiations with the U.S. over the Oregon Territory. At the time of the Texas revolt, the British representative, Charles Elliot, had interceded with the Mexican government to recognize an independent Texas Republic. In Mexico City, British banks, investors and diplomats were deeply involved in the Mexican economy, while France and Spain also tried to influence events in Mexico. What would it matter to these European nations whether the United States expanded or Texas remained an independent republic? What are current examples of multinational involvement in different parts of the world today?