A third example of the racism and imperialism connection lies in the Mexican-American War. The belief stated in James K. Polk's "Manifest Destiny assumed that white America was superior and destined to overrun the continent. Non-white neighboring nations, in this case Mexico, were reasoned to be lesser and therefore should be overtaken. Mexico's territorial claim to what would become Texas was largely ignored by Americans who were building plantations there. Mexico reacted by attacking Americans within their territory. Mexicans were demonized as savage killers in need of expulsion from Texas and later what would become the Western U.S. Racism toward Mexicans was widespread, even as an excuse against the war as Congressman Delano of Ohio expressed
