What is your opinion about how Texas joined the United States and the war with Mexico that came after? Was there any other way based on the information you have that we could have accomplished having Texas join the Union, while avoiding war with Mexico? Did President James K. Polk do the right thing? I am asking you to judge both the president's and the country's performance on these issues. Make sure you address everything from the possible motives, the actions taken during the events, and finally the peace process that ended the war with Mexico.