Joseph Wheelan explores the Mexican-American War of 1846 to 1848. The author chronicles President James Polk’s desire to acquire California via war and the popular dissent that followed the start of the war by the likes of John Quincy Adams, Henry David Thoreau, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. The United States declared war on Mexico on May 13, 1846. What became known as “Mr. Polk’s War” resulted in more than 500,000 square miles of new U.S. territory. Mr. Wheelan responded to questions from members of the audience.