Question

Why did President James K. Polk want any land that bordered the Pacific Ocean? At what cost was he willing to go to get that land?

a) The question is subjective and requires interpretation.

b) Expansionist policies and Manifest Destiny influenced Polk's goals.

c) Please provide more context or details for a specific answer.

d) The question is unclear and needs clarification.

Answer 1

President James K. Polk wanted land that bordered the Pacific Ocean because of the concept of Manifest Destiny and expansionist policies. He was willing to provoke a war with Mexico to obtain the Mexican provinces of New Mexico and California.

Step-by-step explanation:

President James K. Polk wanted land that bordered the Pacific Ocean because he believed in the concept of Manifest Destiny and the expansionist policies of the United States in the 1840s. Manifest Destiny referred to the belief that it was the destiny and duty of the United States to spread its influence across the continent, bringing democratic values and Protestantism to new territories. Polk was willing to go to great lengths to obtain this land, including provoking a war with Mexico to acquire the Mexican provinces of New Mexico and California.