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

 The Mexican war was when Polk was president. He provoked the Texas boundary conflicts to gain California. Here are some reasons and ways Polk gained California.  The way Polk provoked the Mexicans was when he moved Zachary Taylor to the Rio Grande, which was the American boundary line but not the Mexican one. The Mexicans were being invaded by the Americans while the Americans were just moving their troops down to defend the border. Polk also had Winfield Scott go through the Gulf of Mexico to land in Mexico City. When Polk attempted to but California, Mexico just ignored him and wouldn't let him talk. Polk was hoping that the Mexicans would fire the first shot so they could declare war on them.  The reasons why Polk provoked was because he wanted California. Only they didn't have enough reasons to declare war so he had to provoke Mexico. His reasons now were Mexico owes America 3 million dollars, America was snubbed on the purchase and now the attack on American soil. Polk had the 4 point plan to gain California. Santa Anna also provoked further war by attacking and backstabbing America twice. Now America can declare war.  When America won, they got California. Now America can trade with china through the port of San Francisco. That was a change in trade and was good for America. Polk had ideas to buy California before the war even started. He didn't provoke because he wanted slavery, he provoked to gain California. He only got a lot of extra land because Santa Anna kept saying that he would make a treaty but turned around and attacked America twice.  Overall, Polk did a good thing to America by winning California and the rest of the land.