Answer:
Gold had not been discovered there yet, but Polk wanted California and its magnificent San Francisco Bay as the American gateway to trade with China and other Asian nations. Polk was worried that other nations, such as England or France, might take California if the United States did not act.
Explanation:
Conflict between other countries that are Russian allies always causes concern for war-weary americans because if the conflict continues, our government will be obligated to get involved.
The correct answer is - trade.
The Sumerians engaged in trade with their move of exchanging their surplus food for materials like the copper that they needed to develop their weapons and thus their army forces. This was a very smart move from their side because they managed to use the resource they had in abundance but was scarce in the other surrounding areas so that they take what they need to become stronger and pretty much defend more efficiently from the same people they were engaging in trade with.
The dutch in new Netherland prospered by establishing a great deal of trade connections in which they would sell goods that they cultivated in the New World for a high profit.