To What Extent Was the Mexican War an Avoidable and Unnecessary

Essay

To what extent was the Mexican War an avoidable and unnecessary war? Alternatively, how might the Mexican War be considered an inevitable war between America and Mexico that could not be avoided even if President Polk and the various Mexican governments had engaged in some difficult political bargaining and compromises during the mid-1840s? What diplomatic, military, and economic steps could President Polk and the Mexican government have taken to avoid war and why didn't they respectively or jointly do so?