Activities

1. An Historical Interpretation

In all the new States of the Union land monopolization has gone on at an alarming rate, but in none of them so fast as in California, and in none of them, perhaps, are its evil effects so manifest...

California has had one curse which the other States haue not had-the Mexican grants. The Mexican land policy was a good one for a sparsely settled pastoral Country, such as California before the American occupation. To every citizen who wanted it, a cattle range was granted. By the terms of the cession it was provided that these rights should be recognized.

It would have been better, far better, if the American Government had agreed to permit these grant-holders to retain a certain amount of land around their improvements, and... for the rest of the grants... payment of a certain sum per acre, turning it into the public domain...

The Mexican grants were vague, running merely for so many leagues within certain natural boundaries. It is this indefiniteness which has given such an opportunity for rascality, and has made such a curse in California...has prevented .. their original owners from reaping from them any commensurate benefit... the native grant holders were completely at the mercy of shrewd lawyers and sharp speculators, and .. nearly all the grants passed into other hands.

Having read this interpretation of the Mexican grants, please answer the following questions:

1. What mistake, according to George, did this government make concerning its land policy?
2. How would George have corrected this mistake? Explain what you think he means.
3. How did the terms of our agreement with Mexico after the war affect our land difficulties?
4. "He was not much of a lawyer in those days who had not a Mexican Grant in his pocket, the title to which his client paid for." Explain the meaning of this quotation.
5. Evaluate the interpretation by Henry George.
6. United States land policy is still an important factor in the nation's economy. Explain recent actions which verify that statement.
7. Explain what other events you have studied to date that relate to our land policies.

2. Debating the Morality of the Mexican War

The Mexican War was one many Americans considered unnecessary and unjust, while others felt it was our destiny to occupy all land from the Atlantic to the Pacific. In order to bring out -- the contrasting points of view, hold two debates on the morality of the Mexican War, one to have taken place just before the declaration of war and the other in the present. So that there is some uniformity, have two students take the pro position and two students take the con position. It is suggested that the two students opposing the war research the positions of Abraham Lincoln, who stated it was "unnecessary and unconstitutionally begun by the president," and of Henry David Thoreau, who went to jail rather than pay a tax to support the war. (His essay, Civil Disobedience, is recommended for all students.) Students advocating the pro side can research the positions of President James Polk, including his war message, and the views of such expansionists as John L. Sullivan, who coined the expression "Manifest Destiny." After both debates have been presented -- the first dealing with views before the declaration of war and the second reflecting present opinions -- have the entire class analyze the debates.

3. Map reading

This map illustrates the extent of United States expansion from the end of the war of independence with Great Britain until 1853. Using your textbook in conjunction with the map, fill in the information called for the the chart below.