[Strategerist]

Last but not least, the US has NEVER gone to war much less begun hostilities for 'gain'. Any military conflict that the US has endeavored, ended with the US troops evacuating the combat area (empty handed).

Ummm..you planning on giving California, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico back to the Mexicans?

Also, the War of 1812 was primarily fought for the purpose of conquering Canada; reason we don't own Canada isnt' because we evacuated it, it's because our invasions of Canada failed during the war and we didn't win the war.

[SMARTY]

"planning on giving California, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico back to the Mexicans?"

I thought those territories were 'held' by European Monarchs. Per our Constitution, the US recognized the claim of NO Monarch on the N. American continent. The US was expanding and those places were annexed to the US. Maybe I misunderstood. I never thought of those places as sovereign 'countries' as opposed to the US and I took them to be colonies of European leaders.. sort of absentee Monarchs who could not or would not defend their colonies.

Also, the war of 1812, among other things, was fought to keep British press gangs OFF us shipping. Am I wrong there too?