What+caused+the+Mexican+War?++Did+Polk+provoke+the+Texas+boundry+conflict+in+oreer+to+gain+California,+or+expand+slavery?+abbyy!

 When arriving in office in 1844, James K. Polk created a 4-point plan to better the country of America. This plan consisted of gaining California, therefore Polk didn't provoke the Mexican-American war through slavery but through Manifest Destiny. Throughout the conflict between America and Mexico the boundary has never been clear. To capitalize on this Polk sent General Zachary Taylor to the Nueces River, where the Mexican government believed the boundary was; in order to generate a point Polk moved Taylor to the Rio Grande. This is the line where the U.S thought the boundary lied. When the Mexican army attacked, Polk claimed an attack on American soil. This enabled Polk to declare war on Mexico. In order to obtain California from the Mexican government, Polk needed to create a treaty with a government official. Due to Santa Anna being exiled to Cuba, they were left with no one. Polk had to go to some desperate measures in order to complete his 4-point system. When Santa Anna contacted the American Government and organized a deal; we accepted. He stated that if we got him into Mexico then he would sell us whatever we wanted. With manifest destiny in the mind of Polk, he overlooked the dictator of Mexico and accepted the offer. While this was going on, Freemont was driving out the Mexicans which were living in California at the time. Santa Anna backstabbed America by organizing an army, starting the Mexican-American war. The treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo consisted of giving the Mexican government 15 million dollars, but in return we received California. With the edition of California, trading with China became easier. Due to the port at San Francisco. All in all, Polk achieved part of his 4-point plan and expanded America.