Kaltura
President James K. Polk desired to achieve his vision of "Manifest Destiny," and sought to acquire Mexico's northern territories. Mexico had no desire to sell Alta California and Nuevo Mexico to Pres. Polk, and in turn was provoked into war by attacking American troops within disputed territory in Texas. From 1846-1848, the United States and Mexico fought for supremacy of these territories. Modern historians view the Mexican-American War as a source of controversy due to how the land was acquired.Â
Standards
- This indicator was developed to encourage inquiry into how land acquisition and the resulting border changes of the U.S. impacted the people of the western territories prior to Westward Expansion.
- 4.3.CE Analyze the effects of government policies in promoting United States territorial expansion into the west.
- 4.3.P Analyze the role of technology and the environmental impact during the period of Westward Expansion.
- 4.3.CC Recognize patterns of continuity and change in the experiences of Native Americans and Spanish-speaking people as the U.S. expanded westward.
- 4.3.E Analyze multiple perspectives of early westward expansion, including the addition of slave and free territories and states.
- 4.3.CO Compare the motivations for and reactions to various expeditions into the Western territories.
- 8.3.CX Evaluate the economic significance of agriculture on South Carolina, the U.S., and the world.
- This indicator was designed to encourage inquiry into the continuities and changes of the experiences of marginalized groups such as African Americans, Native Americans and women, as the U.S. expanded westward and grappled with the development of new states.
- This indicator was developed to encourage inquiry into the causes of American expansion, such as a growing and diversifying population and the expansion of the plantation economy. This indicator promotes inquiry into the relationship between sectionalism and political compromise, culminating in the Civil War.
