Question: Why did the Mexicans attack Taylor’s troops?
<em>Options:
</em>
A) They were waiting for American aggressors on their soil so they could kill them.
B) They had the advantage of a more powerful army.
C) They wanted Texas returned to them.
D) They had been provoked by the presence of troops.
Answer: The correct answer is option <u>D) They had been provoked by the presence of troops. </u>
Explanation: Not only was Texas a difficult topic between the U.S and Mexico. The United States president, James K. Polk had his eyes on California, New Mexico and the rest of what is today the U.S. Southwest. However, his offer to purchase those lands was rejected so he instigated a fight between Mexico and U.S by moving troops into a disputed zone between the Rio Grande and Nueces River that both countries had already recognized as part of the Mexican state, Coahuila. Due to this, on April 25th, 1846, Mexico attacked a group of U.S. soldiers in the disputed zone under the command of General Zachary Taylor. They killed about a dozen U.S troops.
