Did+Polk+provoke+the+Mexican-American+war+to+expand+California+or+to+gain+California.

The Mexican-American war was provoked by President James K. Polk not because he wanted to expand the idea of slavery in the southern states but because he wanted to gain California as the newest state of America. President Polk had more of a reason to go to war over California because that was his overall plan for his Presidency. When elected into office Polk presented the people with a four point plan that was to be completed by the end of his presidency. One of the points on that plan was to gain California as a state. California would also provide a reason for steady trade with countries like China. Because California was on the west coast it was closer to the far eastern countries. The Port of San Francisco also offered a huge stopping point for far eastern commerce. Polk had also previously attempted to purchase California, in an attempt to avoid war. Obviously he was unsuccessful. The fact that Polk wanted a war for slaver y purposes is simply that it was a conspiracy theory that was never carried out. Although being a slave owner and a strong democrat it was easy to see why people may think that he would want another slave state. Winning the Texas territory would provide a lot of land below the infamous 36'30 line which provided opportunity for many more slave states. This would of course have made the southern democrats extremely happy, but it wouldn't have made the northerners very happy. The north was booming and it was not a safe move for the new president to push his ideas about slavery.