MANIFEST DESTINY 1806 1855
MANIFEST DESTINY
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Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
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They were newly obtained territories of Mexico that were thinly settled and long neglected by the Mexican government so Polk hoped they’d be for sale.
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He thought it was everyone’s Manifest Dream to sell territories to the US.
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Polk was a strong believer in Manifest Destiny so he thought the Mexican government would agree that it was God’s will for the US to have the territories and be eager to sell.
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Mexico was struggling financially after the Revolutionary War and owed the British government lots of money so Polk thought they would want to sell for a profit.
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Detailed explanation-1: -Polk wanted to lay claim to California, New Mexico, and land near the disputed southern border of Texas. Mexico, however, was not so eager to let go of these territories. Polk started out by trying to buy the land. He sent an American diplomat, John Slidell, to Mexico City to offer $30 million for it.
Detailed explanation-2: -In late April 1846, Mexican troops crossed the Rio Grande and killed eleven U.S. soldiers. In response, Polk requested a declaration of war from Congress, arguing that Mexicans had “shed the blood of our fellow-citizens on our own soil.” By May 13, 1846, both nations officially were at war.
Detailed explanation-3: -President Polk was willing to go to war against Mexico over Texas, but not against Britain over Oregon because Britain was more powerful (more of a threat) than Mexico, and so a war with Mexico would be less costly than one with Britain.
Detailed explanation-4: -Soon, a U.S. patrol was attacked by Mexican troops, and Polk wasted no time in asking Congress for a declaration of war in 1846. Despite opposition to a conflict, Congress approved a declaration of war in May of 1846 following Polk’s statements that the Mexicans had attacked and killed U.S. soldiers.