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The Wilmot Proviso (#28)
Priyanka Dangi
Background:
The U.S. wished to acquire Texas from Mexico but when a treaty failed, America simply annexed it. After the US annexed Texas, Polk wished to negotiate with Mexico on a few topics such as the border and debt owed by Mexico. However, Mexico's government was in turmoil but Polk couldn't take no for an answer. President Polk stationed General Zachary Taylor and the army on disputed area, which enraged the Mexicans and incited a skirmish. When Polk notified Congress of that Mexico had shed American blood on American soil, Congress approved the Mexican-American War in 1846.
This war was highly controversial and America was divided over this issue. Some Americans opposed the war because they believed that Polk provoked the weaker Mexico. Others just feared the expansion of slavery while Southerns wished the Union to be all-white. This was when David Wilmot came into the picture. He proposed banning all African-Americans from any territory gained at the end of the war. Thus the Wilmot Proviso was born from the issue of the impending Mexican-American War.
The short video on the left side depicts the transition of the Mexican-American War into the Wilmot Proviso. Enjoy!
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