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President John Polk wanted Congress to declare war on Mexico because he felt that they were a continued menace and invaded the territory causing bloodshed on fellow citizens. Scholars, however, felt that Polk had provoked the war as part of a land grab.

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Wiki User

9y ago
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Wiki User

14y ago

He didn't. The President of the United States does not have that authority. At his request, the congress declared war because units of the Mexican army had attacked an American outpost north of the Rio Grande.

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11y ago

The stated reason was the Thornton Affair, but it was primarily because Mexico would not negotiate the sale of California and New Mexico which the US needed to achieve Manifest Destiny from sea to shining sea.

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Angelo Ontiveros

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2y ago

i. w. o.

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Connie Ferry

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2y ago
awsome, thanks

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Q: Why did President James Polk ask Congress to declare war on Mexico?
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Related questions

What war was James Polk involved with?

Polk asked Congress to declare war on Mexico and was President during its duration.


Who was the first president to declare war NOT congress?

James Madison


Who was the first president to take the nation into declared war?

Only Congress can declare war. Presidents can ask Congress to declare war . The presidents who made such a request and had it granted were James Madison (against Great Britain), James Polk (against Mexico), William McKinley(against Spain), Woodrow Wilson (against Germany and allies) and Franklin Roosevelt (against Japan and allies)


Who was the first president to declare war?

First, only Congress can delcare war. The President can ask for a declaration of war from Congress. The first President was James Madison. He was president at the start of the War of 1812


Who asked Congress to declare war on Britain in 1812?

James Madison asked Congress to declare war on Britain in 1812.


Who was president of the US at the start of the Mexican war?

Well if you are asking about the war with mexico that took place during 1846-1848 it would be president james k. polk.


What was the event President James K Polk used to declare war on Mexico?

The border clash between the US and Mexican Armies called the Thornton Affair.


Which president started the war of 1812?

A US President does not have the right to declare war. The most he/she can do in that respect is to request a declaration of war from Congress, to legally persuade members of Congress to vote for the declaration, and to request others to legally persuade members of Congress to vote for the decalration. Congress did vote in favor of the declaration of war, but it was by the smallest margin of any declaration of war in US history.


What war was fought when James Madison was president?

James Madison was President when the War of 1812 was fought. He was not a leader among the War Hawks who favored war but eventually he came to agree with them that war was inevitable and he did ask Congress to declare war on Britain.


What country did James Knox Polk declare war against in 1846?

Mexico


How does a president declare war?

He takes a dart, closes his eyes, spins around three times, and then throws it at a map on the wall. Then he looks at the country/ province/ general area that it lands on and exclaims, "I declare war on *insert name here*." And that is how babies are born.


What role did James Madison play in the war of 1812?

I believe he was elected president. !!Boweezie10 owns!!