US-Mexico War (jan 1, 1846 – aug 1, 1848)

Description:

-Polk was determined to acquire all Mexican lands between Texas and Pacific
-crisis of slavery and expansion
-native attacks on northern Mexican territory; sparsely populated and weak defense
-Texas broke away from Mexico and joined the Union -> Mexico suspended diplomatic relations with the US
-Polk sent military into Mexican territory of California -> Mexicans enraged
-US established a new US-Mexican border
-popular support for war
-to avoid war with Britain, Polk accepted British terms that divided Oregon Country at 49th parallel
-US secured control of California and Mexican capital, Mexico City, to ensure American victory in 1847
-new Mexican government made peace with the US

-roused bitter sectional conflict during and after the war
-northern Whigs opposed the war on a moral ground and accused Polk of waging the war to gain more slave states and increase Democrat control of the government

Added to timeline:

Date: