<P> Manifest destiny played an important role in the expansion of Texas and American relationship with Mexico . In 1836, the Republic of Texas declared independence from Mexico and, after the Texas Revolution, sought to join the United States as a new state . This was an idealized process of expansion that had been advocated from Jefferson to O'Sullivan: newly democratic and independent states would request entry into the United States, rather than the United States extending its government over people who did not want it . The annexation of Texas was attacked by anti-slavery spokesmen because it would add another slave state to the Union . Presidents Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren declined Texas's offer to join the United States in part because the slavery issue threatened to divide the Democratic Party . </P> <P> Before the election of 1844, Whig candidate Henry Clay and the presumed Democratic candidate, former President Van Buren, both declared themselves opposed to the annexation of Texas, each hoping to keep the troublesome topic from becoming a campaign issue . This unexpectedly led to Van Buren being dropped by the Democrats in favor of Polk, who favored annexation . Polk tied the Texas annexation question with the Oregon dispute, thus providing a sort of regional compromise on expansion . (Expansionists in the North were more inclined to promote the occupation of Oregon, while Southern expansionists focused primarily on the annexation of Texas .) Although elected by a very slim margin, Polk proceeded as if his victory had been a mandate for expansion . </P> <P> After the election of Polk, but before he took office, Congress approved the annexation of Texas . Polk moved to occupy a portion of Texas that had declared independence from Mexico in 1836, but was still claimed by Mexico . This paved the way for the outbreak of the Mexican--American War on April 24, 1846 . With American successes on the battlefield, by the summer of 1847 there were calls for the annexation of "All Mexico", particularly among Eastern Democrats, who argued that bringing Mexico into the Union was the best way to ensure future peace in the region . </P> <P> This was a controversial proposition for two reasons . First, idealistic advocates of manifest destiny like John L. O'Sullivan had always maintained that the laws of the United States should not be imposed on people against their will . The annexation of "All Mexico" would be a violation of this principle . And secondly, the annexation of Mexico was controversial because it would mean extending U.S. citizenship to millions of Mexicans . Senator John C. Calhoun of South Carolina, who had approved of the annexation of Texas, was opposed to the annexation of Mexico, as well as the "mission" aspect of manifest destiny, for racial reasons . He made these views clear in a speech to Congress on January 4, 1848: </P>

Manifest destiny is associated with which of these statements