From: Anonymous Two
Date: 4/5/00
Time: 11:21:43 PM
Remote Name: 155.247.246.69
Explain why Mexico was important to the U.S. at this time. During the mid 1800's, Mexico consisted of the vast land area stretching from the Pacific Ocean northwest fromthe 42 degree north latitude, which included California, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, parts of Colorado and Wyoming, eastward just beyong the Rio Grande River and southward including all of present day Texas into Central America. The increasing number of immigrants entering the U.S. encouraged people to migrate west. They were lured by offers of free grants of 1280 acres of land as a means to improve their debt ridden lives. Motives of the nation's leaders (Nicholas Trist, Zachery Taylor, ) was to overtake Mexican territory to increase slavery in efforts to "increase the political power of southern states" and James Polk known for his platform to expand the country into a continental nation. Increased population due to mass immigration, western migration, and economic growth encouraged improvements in communications, invention of the telegraph, and transportation; the railroad. Mexican territory contained valuable resources, such as gold, silver, and plenty of fertile inexpensive land for agriculture. Most importantly, the western sea coast would provide access to trade with the Asian-Oriental markets.