USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The Annexation of Texas, the Mexican-American War, and the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, 1845–1848. During his tenure, U.S. President James K. Polk oversaw the greatest territorial expansion of the United States to date.

Detailed explanation-2: -After handing over the reins of government to his successor, Zachary Taylor, the Whig candidate whom he had correctly suspected of planning to use his Mexican War heroism to seek the presidency, Polk embarked on an extensive tour of the southern states.

Detailed explanation-3: -On December 27, 1845, U.S. President James K. Polk signed the annexation bill into law and formally recognized Texas as the 28th state of the Union.

Detailed explanation-4: -To bring pressure, Polk sent Gen. Zachary Taylor to the disputed area on the Rio Grande. To Mexican troops this was aggression, and they attacked Taylor’s forces. Congress declared war and, despite much Northern opposition, supported the military operations.

Detailed explanation-5: -Pres. James K. Polk oversaw a large territorial expansion of the United States. He advocated for annexation of Texas and aggressively prosecuted the resulting Mexican-American War, which added much of the Southwest and California to the country’s territory.