President James K. Polk was anchored to his belief in “Manifest Destiny”— that the nation was meant to spread far and wide in North America. According to History.com, “he sent his Commanding General of the Army Zachary Taylor and his troops to claim territory along the Rio Grande River between the U.S. and Mexico…” They skirmished in the Mexican American War, signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo on February 2, 1848, and annexed 525,000 miles with the eventual boost of Texas, California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona; parts of Colorado and Wyoming.

Although the U.S. was victorious, Polk’s policies generated 1,773 casualties, $100 million in costs—nearly $3 billion today—and a downturn in public opinion. Polk departed office in compromised health and died three months later. Zachary Taylor succeeded him.

The Grateful American Book Prize recommends The Mexican American War by John DiConsiglio for more information.

On February 10, 1763, the French and Indian War ended. The Treaty of Paris terminated the hostilities, but the “Republique” was forced to cede virtually all of its North American territories, including Canada and Louisiana. The British scooped up Florida from Spain.

According to History. com, “the treaty ensured the colonial and maritime supremacy of Britain and strengthened the 13 American colonies by removing their European rivals to the north and the south.” Fifteen years later, French bitterness over the loss of most of their colonial empire contributed to their intervention in the American Revolution on the side of the Patriots.”