Manifest Destiny Mexican war Follow Up post

Mexican- American War and California Gold Rush; Follow-Up Post

The article details how Mexican-American War (1846- 1848) erupted as a consequence of Texas territorial dispute, which U.S had annexed in 1845. Mexico claimed the Nueces River as its border, while the United States claimed it is at the Rio Grande. Mexico had earlier on rejected Texas independence, the statehood aspirations of Texans, and the westward expansionist aspirations of the United States. The article points out that President Polk's purchase negotiations broke down, igniting the war which was denounced by Lincoln and the Whig opposition as immoral, violent, and pro-slavery. Since this was an offensive war and a defensive war, the opposition asserted that the president violated the constitution even though he sought and got the support of the congress. Finally, the article summarizes that President Polk succeeded in acquiring and extending American territory.

The article rightly captures that it was Marshall who discovered gold in Nevada triggering the largest exodus to California resulting in the quick influx of fortune seekers, according to this article. Slavery proponents and anti-slavery politicians clashed in Congress over California's admittance to the Union as the 31st state because the state had abolished slavery. The gold rush had a lasting impact on California's history by promoting major industrial and agricultural growth and aiding the state's transition to statehood.   

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