Oklahoma Land Rush

http://www.metmuseum.org/Works_of_Art/viewOnezoom.asp?dep=2&zoomFlag=1&viewmode=0&item=15%2E30%2E59

Manifest Destiny – that America was destined to expand from sea to sea

THE STORY OF TEXAS

1821 - MEX wins independence from SPN

1820s - AMER farmers move to E. TEX (then MEX) to grow cotton

MEX welcomes AMER farmers for Indian protection

Expecting peace… MEX grants AMERs land

1830s - Growing apart, ~ 1,000 AMER per month enter

A MIXED BLESSING

AMERs BRING SLAVES

CATHOLICISM

Independence in the air…

- 20,000 AMERs (1K slaves) outnumber MEXs

Meanwhile, Mexico’s leader…

Santa Anna cracks down on

movements – including AMERs

The Alamo

MEX attack old fort –– killing all 187 TEXs, incl. Crockett & Bowie

                                                                                 

1836 - TEX declares independence from MEX (amid Alamo battle)

“Remember the Alamo”

Sam Houston wins @ San Jacinto

Treaty…

-Santa Anna recognizes TEX independence

- MEX Cong. rejects treaty, but war is over

A republic?

A U.S. state?

No decision for almost 10 years, until…

James K. Polk

Tennessee Democrat

Slaveholder

WHAT AMERICA TOOK

GAME ON - TAKING MEXICO

MEXICO

MEXICO

THE INCIDENT

TEX claimed border @ Rio Grande River

NUECES RIVER

MEX claimed border at Nueces River -- 100 miles north

• Polk orders Gen. Zach Taylor to Rio

• MEX sees violation

• Shots kill 11 AMER soldiers

• Polk says ‘American blood has been shed on ____________ soil’

• Sends declaration of war to Congress

Lincoln’s famousSPOT RESOLUTIONS

Henry David Thoreau

The Mexican War (1846 – 1848)

War lasted about 18 months

Impressive U.S. leadership – all West Point grads and future Civil War generals for both N & S

Tremendous public protest to war

Mexico: 50,000 deaths

U.S.: 13,000 deaths (11,000 from diseases)

U.S. Wins: Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

- MEX cedes (gives up) New MEX, CALIF

- U.S. pays $15 million (guilt money) for “Mexican cession”

- Rio Grande border established

A TRAINING GROUND

vs.

Winfield Scott

ELIZABETH CADY STANTON