What+caused+the+Mexican+War?+Did+Polk+provoke+the+Texas-boundary+conflict+in+order+to+gain+California,+or+expand+slavery?+AL

The Mexican War was caused by the boundary conflict between Texas and Mexico. The Mexicans thought the boundary was at the Nueces River, while the Americans claimed it was the Rio Grande River. This different understanding of the boundary was the reason why Polk provoked the conflict in order to gain California. Polk provoked the Texas conflict so he could gain California and the land between America and California.

Polk ordered General Taylor to cross the Nueces and approach the Rio Grande. This is what caused the Mexicans to attack the Americans and kill sixteen of them. This act of the Mexicans caused the American government to declare war on Mexico. Polk described the act as unprovoked and unneccesary. The war was fought for the land to the Rio Grande and for the land from Texas to California. The reason America believed California was ours was because we had Americans living there. The reason Polk provoked the fight was to gain the California area and uphold the meaning of Manifest Destiny which was the idea that America was bound to control the whole continent from coast to coast.

Polk provoked the Texas conflict so he could gain California and the land between America and California. Polk believed in Manifest Destiny and believed that America was bound to control the area anyway. He gained the California area to expand the area of the United States of America.