Mexican-American War

[WIP]
78,700 US soldiers, up to 40,000 Mexican soldiers fought.

Notable as being fought almost entirely by volunteers.

The primary cause of the conflict was a desire by leaders and US residents to expand US territory. Mexico was actually wiling to secede territory to either the US or British in exchange for cash value to cover their national debt. But they warned the US for years that forcible annexation would mean war. They effectively gave up Texas to Texan independence while holding on to the possibility that they would win it back eventually. They never officially recognized Texan independence. In the meantime, the boundary between Texas and Mexico was never agreed upon. The US officially omitted the disputed area, but then claimed it after the official annexations. Mexico might have tolerated the US's annexation of Texas but that did not include the disputed area. The British of all people attempted to mediate for peace which was in their interest for the possibility of obtaining California and settling the disputed boundary of the Oregon territory with the US. The Oregon boarder dispute was the deal breaker for the US-Britixh relations as they refused to have limits on their expansion but the outbreak of the Mexican-American War forced their hand and they compromised with the British to settle the boarder. The war was provoked by John Charles Frémont under federal orders. He incited revolution of independence from Mexico (the Bear Flag Revolt) amongst the Californians. He left California at the request of the Mexican government only to return after revolution broke out. This was referred to as "the Texas Game". Rather than aggressively invading Mexico without provocation, the US would assist a nation in their independence.

How much John Charles Frémont was under orders to do and what initiative he took for himself remains a controversy, but by in large the outcome was desired by US residents and leaders. John Charles Frémont (born illegitimately as John Charles Fremont) was married to Jessie Benton, daughter of Sen. Thomas Hart Benton who was a proponent of Manifest Destiny (the concept the the USA should control the entire continent of North America.) John Charles Frémont, who's illegitimate social standing had been rectified by marring Jessie Benton (and a name change from Fremont to his biological father's name of Frémont), shared his father-in-laws views for Manifest Destiny. But JC Frémont opposed slavery, a strong indication that his personal views were not determined by his new family ties.