May 14, 1846
The White House
Washington, D.C., United States
I set my coffee cup on the newspaper at my breakfast table. The headline "WAR DECLARED ON MEXICO" was printed so large that it barely covered a single letter. President Polk and his wife sat across from me, the former being engrossed in his own copy of the New York Times.
President Polk had run on a platform of expansionism. After the wild success of the Louisiana Purchase, Americans across the country were eager for more land to settle. In the north, fierce negotiations to obtain the Oregon Territory from the British were ongoing. In the south, however, our attempts to purchase land from the Mexicans continually fell flat.
Following the annexation of the Republic of Texas, tensions with Mexico reached a breaking point. Mexican cavalry attacked a US patrol along the border near the Rio Grande. Naturally, Congress voted to declare war.
"Imagine the swell within our voters' hearts," the President gushed. He had barely touched his plate for his excitement. "I daresay we've won '48 already."
I gave him a tolerant smile. Some presidents rarely if ever sought my council. Mr. Polk was one of them.
I returned to my own thoughts as the First Lady supplied her congratulations. Considering the French's keen eye on Mexico, the war would no doubt push France even farther from me. I felt a surge of loneliness at the thought of becoming even more isolated.
Many nations of the world were becoming disenchanted by our aggressive expansionism. Worse still, the shameful persistence of slavery in the South further stained our reputation. Each day, I saw more and more dark clouds gathering on the horizon.
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Spirit of the Nation ★ Female America
Historical Fiction''I shall never be as powerful as the likes of you.'' France gave a reproachful hum. ''𝘈𝘮𝑒́𝘳𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦, you are but thirty years old. I am well over eight hundred. 𝘗𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘴𝘦...almost three hundred.'' My eyes drifted downward, where Prussia's ar...
