Why did America engage in the Mexican-American war? A history video explains the new country's desire to expand to the west coast—and, after Mexico's 1848 surrender, how it doubled in size overnight.

Concepts

the mexican-american war, mexican history, manifest destiny

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Show at the beginning of a unit on the Mexican-American War
• Have learners watch the video independently, then discuss key points with a partner or small group before sharing with the class

Classroom Considerations

• Requires access to the Internet
• Requires sign up for a free account in order to see materials 

Pros

• Informative but brief enough to be a good lesson supplement
• Explains the conflict in context of Manifest Destiny and westward movement in America

Cons

• None