President James Polk wanted to expand Westwords. He believes that US has the Manifest Destiny to expand across the cntinent to the Pacific Ocean. Polk wanted the harbor of San Francisco and all the California Territory around it. In october 1845, he sent siplomat John Slidel to purchase the territory between Neuces and Rio Grande rivers for $5 million, California for $25 million, and $5 million for the Mexican land between Texas and California. The Mecian government refused to see Slidel.
An army led by General Zachary Taylor moved to the disputed zone. In 1846, Mexican troops attacked American soldiers. The hospility began.
First Battle of Mexican War
1. Fought along Rio Grande, near Palo Alto
2. The weap gunpowder the Mexican had gave American an advantage
3. General Zachary Taylor(elected as America's 12th president) defeated Mexican force/ US won
1. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
-A peace treaty that ends war.
-Signed in Mexico on February 2, 1848
2. Mexican agreed to sell california and territories in the North
3. US paid Mexicp $15 million for the territory in Texas. This includes north of the Rio Grande, New Mexico, and California.