Answer:
C) He ordered troops to invade Mexico and capture Vera Cruz and Mexico City is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
President Polk believed in the concept of "Manifest Destiny," which was the belief that the United States had the right to expand its territory across the North American continent. He wanted to acquire the territories of California and New Mexico, which were then part of Mexico.
In order to achieve this, President Polk sent troops under the command of General Zachary Taylor to the disputed area between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande. The Mexican government saw this as an act of aggression, as they believed that the Nueces River was the rightful border between the United States and Mexico.
Tensions escalated when a skirmish occurred between American and Mexican troops near the Rio Grande, resulting in American casualties. President Polk used this incident as a justification to ask Congress to declare war on Mexico, claiming that American blood had been shed on American soil.
As a result, President Polk ordered troops to invade Mexico, starting with the capture of Vera Cruz and eventually advancing towards Mexico City. This military action led to the war between the United States and Mexico, which lasted from 1846 to 1848.
Therefore, option C) He ordered troops to invade Mexico and capture Vera Cruz and Mexico City is the correct answer.