Question

1. imagine that you are a historian writing a summary of the u.s.-mexican war. using what you have learned, complete the text below.

manifest destiny taxes oregon slavery mexican cession
abolitionism texas louisiana purchase

1. during the 1840s, many americans supported ________________, or the belief that god wanted the united states to spread across all of north america. in 1844, james k. polk was elected u.s. president, and he shared the belief that the united states should expand.

1. a boundary dispute between mexico and ______________ led to the u.s.-mexican war. after the war, the united states added a large piece of land called the ____________. debates over ______________ in this territory helped lead to the civil war.

Explanation:

1. The first blank describes the 1840s belief that God intended U.S. expansion across North America, which matches Manifest Destiny.
2. The U.S.-Mexican War originated from a boundary dispute between Mexico and the recently annexed Texas.
3. The territory the U.S. gained after the war is known as the Mexican Cession.
4. Debates over whether slavery would be allowed in this new territory were a key precursor to the Civil War.

Answer:

1. During the 1840s, many Americans supported Manifest Destiny, or the belief that God wanted the United States to spread across all of North America. In 1844, James K. Polk was elected U.S. president, and he shared the belief that the United States should expand.
2. A boundary dispute between Mexico and Texas led to the U.S.-Mexican War. After the war, the United States added a large piece of land called the Mexican Cession. Debates over slavery in this territory helped lead to the Civil War.