Following Battle of San Jacinto (April 1836), a captured Santa
Anna trades Texas independence for his liberty 1838, President Sam
Houston invites US to annex Texas Texans likes the idea (why?)
Northerners are hesitant (why?) After James K. Polk is elected
President, he quickly moves to annex (why?) How do you suppose
Mexico reacts?
Slide 4
Mexico experiencing some instability Polk sees great
opportunity to expand not only Texas, but also New Mexico and
California Polk sends representative to buy California and New
Mexico, settle Texas border, but Mexican officials refuse to meet
with him Polk then sends Gen. Zachary Taylor to blockade the Rio
Grande
Slide 5
Southerners Northerners Many support annexation/war Addition of
slave-holding Texas adds pro-slavery seats in government Oppose
upsetting balance of slave/non- slave states Feel South is trying
to dominate the Union Both Sides see pending war as a debate on
slavery in America
Slide 6
American soldiers launch exploration into Mexico, Mexico has
had enough skirmish with Z. Taylor near Rio Grande Congress
recognizes war with Mexico by huge margins Stephen Kearney leads
soldiers to New Mexico New Mexico joins U.S. without conflict
Continues to Cali, joins forces with some American settlers and
drive Mexican soldiers out of self-proclaimed Republic of
California
Slide 7
U.S. has many successes in Mexico itself Much better leadership
(Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, Winfield Scott, Zachary Taylor,
etc.) Victory! Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo Mexico gives up
present-day CA, NV, NM, UT, AZ, CO, WY (basically entire SW of
modern America) for $15 million Small piece of Arizona purchased in
1853 (Gadsden Purchase)
Slide 8
Gold discovered in California People drop everything to pan for
gold Migration to California increases from 400 in 1848 to 44,000
in 1850 So-called 49ers San Francisco becomes pandemonium of a city
Much Diversity also comes to California Large influx of Chinese
migrants Many free blacks seek/find fortune