Not all citizens of the United States believed in the virtue of U.S. territorial expansion, especially when it meant war. The Mexican-American War drew particularly harsh criticism from popular philosophers -- such as Henry David Thoreau -- for the unabashed land grab it represented. More American soldiers died from diseases due to unsanitary conditions than from combat. However, none suffered more than the Mexican troops; the total number of Mexican casualties remains a mystery. This cartoon shows three Mexican prisoners, each of whom has had at least one leg amputated in an apparent effort to prevent infection of their wounds.

Investigate the source using the zoom and navigational tools in the Flash player and then answer the questions below.

1			Who is the target audience for this cartoon?
2			What comment does the cartoon make about the war?
3			How does the cartoon depict Mexicans? Does it implicitly characterize American conduct or attitudes during the war?