Question

What statement best describes both a cause and effect of the Mexican-American War?

a) A disagreement over the border between Mexico and Texas led to the U.S. annexing land gained from Mexico and doubling in size.
b) A disagreement over ownership of California led to the U.S. granting limited mining rights to Mexico.
c) A disagreement over the border between Mexico and New Mexico led to the U.S. cutting off diplomatic relations with Mexico.
d) A disagreement over ownership of New Mexico led to the U.S. building a railroad near the border with Mexico.

Answer 1

The best description of a cause and effect of the Mexican-American War is the border dispute over the Rio Grande, leading to significant U.S. territorial expansion after the war.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that best describes both a cause and effect of the Mexican-American War is: 'A disagreement over the border between Mexico and Texas led to the U.S. annexing land gained from Mexico and doubling in size.' The annexation involved Texas and the claim to the Rio Grande as the border, which was contested by Mexico, holding the Nueces River as the border. This dispute encapsulates the expansionist desires of the United States and set off a chain of events leading to the war. The U.S., motivated by these desires, sent John Slidell on a mission to diplomatically solve the border issues, while also secretly attempting to acquire additional Mexican territory. The conclusion of the war with the U.S. victory resulted in the annexation of a large expanse of territory, significantly shaping the future of the U.S.-Mexico relations and setting patterns of violence and racial antagonism.