the American West conjures images of Adventure lawlessness and opportunity but what possessed us to go west in the first place it all traces back to an important but not very well-known conflict in the mid 19th century called the Mexican American War in the 1840s America was a pretty young country and it was hungry to expand President James K pulk was especially eager to acquire more territory he believed in Manifest Destiny that's the idea the United States had a duty to expand Westward across the North American continent there was a lot of incentive for American settlers to go west they could spread religion strike it rich in business or just get a fresh start needless to say America's neighbor Mexico wasn't thrilled about the westward expansion craze both countries were already on thin ice Mexico was bitter about losing Texas to the US after it won its independence in 1836 president pul wanted California and New Mexico too and he offered Mexico $30 million to purchase them but they refused to sell but hang on Conquering the West Was America's Manifest Destiny right so pul wouldn't take no for an answer he picked a fight sending troops to occupy a disputed area of the Texas and Mexico border and when American troops and the Mexican Cavalry clashed pulk seized the opportunity to declare war on Mexico on May 13th 1846 ultimately Mexico was unprepared for war it's internal politics were just a mess and its Calvary couldn't measure up against the expertise of the US military after 2 years of fighting Mexico Was Defeated and in the Treaty of Guadalupe hialgo it seeded a third of its territory to the US areas that include modern-day Utah California Nevada Arizona and Texas the Mexican American War had a major impact because it resulted in one of the largest territorial expansions of the United States it also launched the careers of a few generals you may have heard of future US president Zachary Taylor and Civil War Titans Robert E Lee and Ulisses S Grant USS Enterprise had proven her steal at the Battle of Midway but the Big E is about to face her greatest challenge yet Invasion at a place called guad canal