List the Following Items in Order of Their Importance as Factors

Essay

List the following items in order of their importance as factors in the outbreak of war between the United States and Mexico: the failure of the Slidell diplomatic mission to Mexico, the positioning of General Taylor's troops on the Rio Grande, unresolved debt claims of American citizens, Manifest Destiny, and President Polk's quest for California. Justify your ranking and explain how each item contributed to the outbreak of war.