What did James K. Polk do in his quest for California?

Answer 1

James K. Polk actively pursued the acquisition of California as part of his broader goals of westward expansion and Manifest Destiny. He sought to resolve the border dispute with Mexico and ultimately provoked the Mexican-American War by sending troops to the disputed territories. Following the U.S. victory in the war, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 resulted in California and much of the Southwest being ceded to the United States, fulfilling Polk's quest for territorial expansion. His actions significantly shaped the nation's borders and fueled debates over slavery in the newly acquired territories.