[churchillbuff]

Polk's policies resulted in the spread of American civilization to vast tracts of untouched land."""

But they were undertaken in order to get more territory for the expansion of slavery. This is why anti-slavery politicians like Lincoln opposed the Mexican War.

[WindOracle]

"But they were undertaken in order to get more territory for the expansion of slavery."

Say WHAT!?!? Suuuure, and all those settlers who swarmed into the west had nothing to do with it.