Mexican-American War (apr 1, 1846 – feb 1, 1848)

Description:

Dispute over whether Texas ended at the Nueces River (the Mexican claim) or the Rio Grande (the U.S. claim).

• Polk wants California
• Polk pushes Texas problem to get California (1846)
– Lincoln "spot" resolutions ("come here and show me the spot where Mexico 'invaded' on this map)


Changed the slavery debate. It almost doubled the size of the United States and began a debate, between Northerners and Southerners, over what to do with the newly acquired land.

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