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Content: More important was a growing feeling in the United States that the country had a
"manifest destiny" to expand westward into new lands (see MANIFEST DESTINY). The
westward movement had brought Americans into Mexican territory, especially California. Mexico was too weak to control or populate its northern territories. Both American and
Mexican inhabitants were discontented with Mexican rule. California seemed almost ready to
declare itself independent. Events leading up to the war. In the fall of 1845, President Polk sent John Slidell to
Mexico as American minister. Slidell was to offer Mexico $25 million and cancel all claims
for damages if Mexico would accept the Rio Grande boundary and sell New Mexico and
California to the United States. If Mexico refused to sell the territories, Slidell was to
offer to cancel the claims on condition that Mexico agreed to the Rio Grande boundary. While Slidell was in Mexico, a new Mexican president came to power.