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

The cause of the Mexican War was the U.S. soldiers being attacked on what they claimed to be American soil. The motive for this war however was that Polk wanted to acquire California from the Mexicans. When there was a dispute on what was the U.S.'s territory and what was the Mexican territory Polk sent troops to what he claimed to be U.S. soil near the Rio Grande River. Mexicans opened fire and the Americans now had a reason to declare war with Mexico. America released Santa Anna only because he said that he would give the U.S. California if he was released, but he double crossed them and raised an army to fight against the U.S. The U.S. then fought back and won the war and Mexico reached an agreement called the Treaty of Guadalupe. Some politicians stated that Polk wanted to expand to California to become a free slave state, but there are many things that disagree with this statement. He had his four point plan before he was elected which one of them stated to acquire California not for a slave state but to fulfill the //Manifest Destiny. //Getting California would also open up trade with Asia. Since Asia was just across the ocean it could be reached by just sea if California was acquired. Since the U.S. have never had war with any Asian countries it would be easier.