Polk was a massive supporter for Manifest Destiny, so an encouragement for expansion was something he definitely wanted. Not to mention the conflict over Texas with Mexico. Even more so, the conquest of California was a dream for many Americans, something that was theirs to be taken and that would lead the U.S to expand into the Pacific, and Polk was a big supporter.
This is the term used to generally describe the legislative branch of the US government
statement in the U.S. Constitution granting Congress the power to pass all laws necessary and proper for carrying out the enumerated list of powers.
The Union blockade of the Southern ports was part of General Scott's Anaconda Plan.
The Anaconda plan involved choking off the Southern supply of goods via a port blockage in tandem with the Union Army coming up, around, and down the Mississippi River and working through the south systemically.
Imperialism was just big at the time, what better than to proudly say “hey, look, we have Hawaii”. That’s all I can think of... sorry if this doesn’t help at all.
