Question

For example, President James K. Polk tried to justify the 1845 annexation of Texas by arguing that as an independent state it might become “an ally or dependency of some foreign nation,” and thus endanger American security.

In 1861, State Secretary William H. Seward proposed to invade Cuba on similarly specious grounds – he warned that if the South should secede from the Union, some European power might exploit the Union’s weakness to take over the island. (President Lincoln turned down the idea.)

Answer 1

Answer:

Polk tried to justify the 1845 annexation of Texas by arguing that as an independent state it might become “an ally or dependency of some foreign nation,” and thus endanger American security.