Why Was California Dbq

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One of America’s interests was California, which had fertile land and access to the Pacific that, in turn, led to possible trade with China. The California region also contained a passage through the Rocky Mountains low enough to build a railroad. Since the Mexican government refused to sell the area, the United States government prepared to seize it in the midst of the fighting. In his memoirs (Document C), John Charles Frémont recalls that California “stood out as the chief subject in the impending war, and...it became a firm resolve to hold it for the United States.” Great Britain was also deeply interested in California, and this threat made the United States grow even more protective over the area. President James K. Polk noted in his diary (Document D) that “Great Britain had her eye on that country and intended to possess it but...the United States would not willingly permit California to pass into the possession of any new colony planted by Great Britain....” Seeing the United States’ determination to keep California free from foreign control, it is obvious that it merely wanted to keep the area for its own. …show more content…
Its rich land and climate suitable for cotton drew the Americans toward it, and eventually the annexation of the Lone Star Republic--as it once was called--in 1845 seized the area from Mexico. As Mexico saw Texas as rightfully their land, the country began to attack the area and threatened to start a war. Yet, the United States government made matters worse by proclaiming the boundary of Texas to be the Rio Grande River while Mexico pushed for the border to be the Nueces River. Both powers were ready to fight for “their” territory, as stated in Document B where President James K. Polk assures Senator William H. Haywood that “[they] will not be the aggressor upon Mexico;...but if her army shall cross the Rio Grande del Norte and invade Texas, [they] will if [they] can drive her army to her own
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