Third State of the Union Address

What it is

This is the text of President James K. Polk's annual message to Congress, delivered on December 7, 1847, during the Mexican-American War. In it Polk reviewed the nation's prosperity, defended the war as forced on the United States by Mexico, and argued for territorial gains including New Mexico and California.

Why it matters

Polk's justification of the war provoked strong opposition in Congress, most famously from a young representative named Abraham Lincoln, who challenged Polk's account of how the war began. The speech shows how presidents use official addresses to shape public opinion about controversial wars.

Look closer

• How does Polk describe the United States as the victim rather than the aggressor?
• Why might Polk emphasize national prosperity alongside the war?
• What does this speech leave out about Mexico's perspective?