Mexican War EssayMexican War Essay

• America's war with Mexico has been America's war with Mexico has been labeled, both then and since, an labeled, both then and since, an unprovoked and unjustifiable war of unprovoked and unjustifiable war of aggression and territorial aggression and territorial aggrandizement. Using the aggrandizement. Using the documents as well as your documents as well as your knowledge of the diplomatic history knowledge of the diplomatic history of the years from 1836 to 1846, of the years from 1836 to 1846, evaluate this assertion.evaluate this assertion.

MANIFEST DESTINY!MANIFEST DESTINY!• A continuation of the A continuation of the

belief that God has belief that God has blessed America and blessed America and that God is pleased that God is pleased with American with American institutions (freedom institutions (freedom and democracy)and democracy)

• And He wants to see And He wants to see as much land as as much land as possible come under possible come under the influence of the the influence of the American wayAmerican way

TEJASTEJAS

• Northernmost part of New Spain and Northernmost part of New Spain and then, after 1821, Mexicothen, after 1821, Mexico

• Traditionally thought of as the land to the Traditionally thought of as the land to the north of the Nueces River (Corpus north of the Nueces River (Corpus Christi)Christi)

• Both American and European Both American and European cartographers of the time had fixed the cartographers of the time had fixed the southern boundary of Texas at the southern boundary of Texas at the Nueces (source: The National Archives – Nueces (source: The National Archives – www.archives.gov)www.archives.gov)

• Sparsely populatedSparsely populated

NUECES RIVER NUECES RIVER BOUNDARYBOUNDARY

THE TREATIES OF THE TREATIES OF VELASCO (1836)VELASCO (1836)

• After the Battle of After the Battle of San Jacinto, Santa San Jacinto, Santa Anna, a prisoner of Anna, a prisoner of the Texas army, the Texas army, signed two treaties signed two treaties at Velasco, Texas at Velasco, Texas

• Public TreatyPublic Treaty– An agreement to end An agreement to end

all hostilities all hostilities – Santa Anna agrees to Santa Anna agrees to

retreat to the south retreat to the south of the Rio Grande of the Rio Grande

THE TREATIES OF THE TREATIES OF VELASCO VELASCO

http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/treatyvelascohttp://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/treatyvelasco.htm.htm• Secret TreatySecret Treaty

– Santa Anna would be released immediately in Santa Anna would be released immediately in exchange for his recognition of Texas exchange for his recognition of Texas independenceindependence

– Both Texas and the Mexican government Both Texas and the Mexican government violated the treatiesviolated the treaties

– Texas detained Santa Anna (from May to Texas detained Santa Anna (from May to November) while the Mexican government November) while the Mexican government declared everything Santa Anna agreed to in declared everything Santa Anna agreed to in captivity to be null and voidcaptivity to be null and void

– Mexico did not recognize Texas independenceMexico did not recognize Texas independence– They continued to view Texas as a province in They continued to view Texas as a province in

rebellionrebellion

Jackson and TexasJackson and Texas

• Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson was a supporter was a supporter of the Texas of the Texas Revolution but Revolution but chose not to chose not to push for Texas push for Texas annexation after annexation after independence independence was achievedwas achieved

MARTIN VAN BUREN AND MARTIN VAN BUREN AND TEXASTEXAS

• Van Buren Van Buren (1837-1841) (1837-1841) opposed the opposed the annexation annexation of Texas on of Texas on grounds that grounds that it would add it would add another another slave state to slave state to the union.the union.

THE TYLER PRESIDENCYTHE TYLER PRESIDENCY(1841-1845)(1841-1845)

• Growing concern Growing concern that Texas would that Texas would ally itself with ally itself with England, abolish England, abolish slavery, sell cotton slavery, sell cotton and hurt southern and hurt southern interestsinterests

• The Tyler The Tyler administration administration negotiated a treaty negotiated a treaty of annexation with of annexation with Texas in 1844Texas in 1844

• Treaties require a Treaties require a 2/3 vote in the 2/3 vote in the SenateSenate

A CONTROVERSIAL A CONTROVERSIAL TREATYTREATY

• Sec. of State Calhoun Sec. of State Calhoun negotiated the treaty negotiated the treaty but suggested the but suggested the desire to annex Texas desire to annex Texas was driven by was driven by southern slave southern slave interests (April 1844)interests (April 1844)

• This inflamed This inflamed northern opposition northern opposition and the treaty was and the treaty was rejected (June 1844)rejected (June 1844) Calhoun life mask

The Election of 1844The Election of 1844

• Texas became the Texas became the major issue in the major issue in the campaigncampaign

• Clay (W) was Clay (W) was against annexation against annexation at first and then at first and then seemed to be for itseemed to be for it

• The Democrats The Democrats rejected anti-rejected anti-annexation MVB annexation MVB and nominated pro-and nominated pro-annexation James K. annexation James K. PolkPolk

The Election of 1844The Election of 1844

• Polk called forPolk called for– Settling the Oregon dispute with EnglandSettling the Oregon dispute with England– Florida StatehoodFlorida Statehood– The annexation of TexasThe annexation of Texas– The acquisition of California (San Francisco The acquisition of California (San Francisco

would be a gateway to the Pacific ocean)would be a gateway to the Pacific ocean)– Polk won the electoral vote 170-105 but the Polk won the electoral vote 170-105 but the

popular vote was very close (difference of popular vote was very close (difference of 40,000 out of 2.6 million cast)40,000 out of 2.6 million cast)

JOINT RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS JOINT RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS ANNEXING TEXAS ANNEXING TEXAS

MARCH 1, 1845MARCH 1, 1845• 3 days before Polk’s 3 days before Polk’s

inaugurationinauguration• Joint Resolutions only Joint Resolutions only

need a majority voteneed a majority vote• ““That Congress doth That Congress doth

consent consent the territory the territory properly included within, properly included within, and rightfully belonging and rightfully belonging to the Republic of Texasto the Republic of Texas, , may be erected into a may be erected into a new State, to be called new State, to be called the State of Texas”the State of Texas”

THE POLK THE POLK ADMINISTRATIONADMINISTRATION

(1845-1849)(1845-1849)• March 4, 1845 – Polk is inauguratedMarch 4, 1845 – Polk is inaugurated• March 31, 1845 – Mexico withdrew its March 31, 1845 – Mexico withdrew its

ambassador (breaks diplomatic relations) ambassador (breaks diplomatic relations) from Washington, D.C. after repeated from Washington, D.C. after repeated warnings against Texas annexation warnings against Texas annexation

• June 16, 1845 – Texas accepted the U.S. June 16, 1845 – Texas accepted the U.S. offer of annexationoffer of annexation

• July 1845 - Polk sent Zachary Taylor and July 1845 - Polk sent Zachary Taylor and 3,500 troops to the banks of the Nueces 3,500 troops to the banks of the Nueces River at Corpus ChristiRiver at Corpus Christi

THE POLK THE POLK ADMINISTRATIONADMINISTRATION

(1845-1849)(1845-1849)• Polk also sent a naval squadron off Polk also sent a naval squadron off

the Mexican gulf coast the Mexican gulf coast • He told his representative in He told his representative in

California to stir up annexation talk California to stir up annexation talk (The Bear Flag Revolt) out there (The Bear Flag Revolt) out there (13,000 Spanish Mexicans, 75,000 (13,000 Spanish Mexicans, 75,000 Native Americans, <1,000 Native Americans, <1,000 foreigners, mostly Americans)foreigners, mostly Americans)

MEXICAN DEBT TO U.S. MEXICAN DEBT TO U.S. AND POLITICAL AND POLITICAL

INSTABILITYINSTABILITY• The Mexican government had The Mexican government had

agreed (in 1843) to assume $3 agreed (in 1843) to assume $3 million in debt to U.S. citizens but million in debt to U.S. citizens but defaulted on its paymentsdefaulted on its payments

• Mexico experienced much political Mexico experienced much political instability during this time as well instability during this time as well as a nationalistic pride that as a nationalistic pride that prevented compromise with the U.S.prevented compromise with the U.S.

THE SLIDELL MISSIONTHE SLIDELL MISSION

• In November 1845, In November 1845, Polk sent John Slidell Polk sent John Slidell to Mexico to negotiate to Mexico to negotiate the purchase of the purchase of California and New California and New MexicoMexico

• Slidell was to offer Slidell was to offer $25 million dollars $25 million dollars (one of numerous (one of numerous offers to buy this land)offers to buy this land)

THE SLIDELL MISSIONTHE SLIDELL MISSION

• Slidell was also instructed to settle all Slidell was also instructed to settle all U.S. claims against Mexico (the $3 U.S. claims against Mexico (the $3 million) in exchange for Mexican million) in exchange for Mexican recognition of the Rio Grande as the recognition of the Rio Grande as the southern boundary of Texas southern boundary of Texas

• Mexico knew of Slidell’s intentions and Mexico knew of Slidell’s intentions and refused to meet with him officially (in refused to meet with him officially (in fact the current government was fact the current government was overthrown out of fear they would give overthrown out of fear they would give away Mexican land to the U.S.)away Mexican land to the U.S.)

POLK THE PROVOKER?POLK THE PROVOKER?• December 29, 1845 – December 29, 1845 –

U.S. Congress approves U.S. Congress approves Texas statehoodTexas statehood

• January 13, 1846 – Polk January 13, 1846 – Polk ordered General Taylor ordered General Taylor to move from the banks to move from the banks of the Nueces and set up of the Nueces and set up camp on the eastern camp on the eastern banks of the Rio Grandebanks of the Rio Grande

• Taylor set up camp and Taylor set up camp and built a fort across from built a fort across from MatamorosMatamoros

Old Rough and Ready

POLK’S WAR MESSAGEPOLK’S WAR MESSAGE

• May 8, 1846 – Slidell returned from May 8, 1846 – Slidell returned from Mexico and urged Polk to take decisive Mexico and urged Polk to take decisive action against Mexicoaction against Mexico

• May 9, 1846 – President Polk began May 9, 1846 – President Polk began drafting a war message to Congress drafting a war message to Congress asking for a declaration of war on asking for a declaration of war on Mexico on two groundsMexico on two grounds

• Unpaid debts and the rejection of Unpaid debts and the rejection of SlidellSlidell

AMERICAN BLOOD UPON AMERICAN BLOOD UPON THE AMERICAN SOILTHE AMERICAN SOIL

• On the night of May 9On the night of May 9thth, while , while composing his war message, Polk composing his war message, Polk received a letter from Gen. Taylorreceived a letter from Gen. Taylor

• Taylor informed Polk of a military Taylor informed Polk of a military skirmish that took place on the skirmish that took place on the eastern banks of the Rio Grande in eastern banks of the Rio Grande in which 16 Americans were killed which 16 Americans were killed (April 25, 1846)(April 25, 1846)

• Polk incorporated this incident into Polk incorporated this incident into his war messagehis war message

POLK’S MESSAGE ON WAR POLK’S MESSAGE ON WAR WITH MEXICOWITH MEXICO

• May 11, 1846 – See primary source May 11, 1846 – See primary source handouthandout

•“…“…Mexico has passed the Mexico has passed the boundary of the United boundary of the United States, has invaded our States, has invaded our territory and shed American territory and shed American blood upon the American blood upon the American soil.”soil.”

CONGRESS DECLARES CONGRESS DECLARES WAR ON MEXICOWAR ON MEXICO

•May 13, 1846May 13, 1846–House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives

– 174-14174-14–SenateSenate

– 40-240-2

LINCOLN’S SPOT LINCOLN’S SPOT RESOLUTIONSRESOLUTIONS

• In 1847, a relatively In 1847, a relatively unknown Whig unknown Whig congressman from congressman from Illinois named Abraham Illinois named Abraham Lincoln challenged Polk Lincoln challenged Polk to identify the “spot” to identify the “spot” where American blood where American blood was shed, implying that was shed, implying that it was not American it was not American soil.soil.

• The Spot Resolutions The Spot Resolutions were never adopted by were never adopted by the Housethe House