The Mexican American war broke out in 1846 under the new president, James K Polk. Polk saw it as his duty to spread democracy throughout the world. His first mission was to make Texas part of U.S. territory. Mexico was not happy, perceiving this annexation as an act of war. For the most part, prior to this at Alamo, the US government did not intervene for Texans. But now, ten years later the Mexican president, Antonio López de Santa Anna was unpopular. Mexicans were not happy, the government was unstable and the army was weak with famine and disease.