Answer:
Americans, beginning the 19th century, had an idea of "Manifest Destiny" in which they thought they were destined to expand the US to the west coast
The California territory is located near the sea. Acquiring this territory would provide America with:
- safe military defense bordered by the sea
- enough space to built ports so we can make a trading relationship with other countries
In the short term, the voyages led to the destruction of the natives of the lands that Columbus found. Some of them were killed outright. Others were enslaved. Many died of diseases brought by the Europeans.
