The mid-nineteenth century witnessed two major wars on U.S. soil: the Mexican-American War and the Civil War. That Abraham Lincoln would commit the country to civil war appears to require little explanation, since he endorsed the abolition of slavery and the preservation of the young nation. However, Lincoln's disdain for the Mexican-American War, which was ostensibly fought to keep Texas in the Union, requires some examination. After all, Lincoln's swift military response to the Southern secessionists at the beginning of the Civil War illustrates that Lincoln would not shrink from battle if the war could ensure a united country. Perhaps Lincoln's resistance to the Mexican-American War can best be seen in light of his sincere belief that President Polk had overstepped his constitutional boundaries in declaring war against Mexico, a sovereign nation. In this light, it is perhaps ironic that Lincoln's own presidential legacy includes a greater centralization of federal government power.

Consider each of the following answer choices separately and select all that apply.

According to the passage, which of the following is true of the Mexican-American War?

A. Lincoln did not initiate the war.
B. Lincoln would have disagreed with President Polk about its legality.
C. It was fought ostensibly to abolish slavery.



Which of the following best describes the function of the sentence about Lincoln’s swift military response in the passage?

A. It provides evidence that Lincoln generally did not oppose wars.
B. It explains that Lincoln, despite his pacifist tendencies, was not convinced that the Mexican-American War effort was wrong.
C. It confirms that Lincoln’s belief in the wisdom of entering a war was formulated on the basis of what is good for a united country.
D. It suggests that Lincoln’s opinions on the Mexican-American War were not based solely on a belief in unification.
E. It illustrates that opponents of United States foreign policy within the federal government convinced Lincoln to enter the Civil War.