The Mexican The Mexican American WarAmerican War

1846-18481846-1848

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Manifest DestinyManifest DestinyThe idea that it is the The idea that it is the

mission or “destiny” of the mission or “destiny” of the United States to expand United States to expand west.west.

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Mexico Pre-WarMexico Pre-War

By the early 1800’s the By the early 1800’s the Northern part of Mexico Northern part of Mexico (today the U.S) was not very (today the U.S) was not very populated.populated.

The Mexican government had The Mexican government had won their independence from won their independence from Spain in 1821.Spain in 1821.

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U.S Expansion WestU.S Expansion WestThe U.S. viewed California The U.S. viewed California

as a Utopia and desired the as a Utopia and desired the land between the Louisiana land between the Louisiana Purchase and California.Purchase and California.

President James Polk was a President James Polk was a supporter of expansion and supporter of expansion and would take land at any cost.would take land at any cost.

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How the War BeganHow the War Began

Mexico does not view the Mexico does not view the Mexican-American War as Mexican-American War as a war, they see it as an a war, they see it as an invasion.invasion.

Many American citizens Many American citizens lived in Mexico, specifically lived in Mexico, specifically Texas. Texas.

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TexasTexasBy 1844 the U.S. citizens living By 1844 the U.S. citizens living

in Mexico no longer wanted to in Mexico no longer wanted to live under the Mexican rule. live under the Mexican rule. – They did not want to be part of They did not want to be part of

the U.S either.the U.S either.These people called Tejanos These people called Tejanos

wanted Texas to be its own wanted Texas to be its own country.country.

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TexasTexas

While Texas did belong to While Texas did belong to Mexico, the United States Mexico, the United States saw this as an opportunity saw this as an opportunity to gain territory.to gain territory.

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April 25April 25thth, 1846, 1846

America went to war with America went to war with Mexico. Mexico. –The war was not a fair fight. The war was not a fair fight.

For 2 years Mexico and the For 2 years Mexico and the U.S engaged in a variety of U.S engaged in a variety of battles.battles.

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Treaty of Guadalupe-Treaty of Guadalupe-HidalgoHidalgo

Signed on Feb. 2, 1848Signed on Feb. 2, 1848The United States The United States acquired more than acquired more than 500,000 square miles of 500,000 square miles of valuable territory.valuable territory.

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An End to the WarAn End to the War

By Sept. of 1848 the U.S had By Sept. of 1848 the U.S had made it to Mexico’s capital: made it to Mexico’s capital: Mexico City. Mexico City. – Once inside the leader of the Once inside the leader of the

Mexican Army, Santa Anna, no Mexican Army, Santa Anna, no longer thought the war was longer thought the war was worth the cost and surrendered.worth the cost and surrendered.

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Aftermath of the InvasionAftermath of the Invasion

U.S. government now U.S. government now believed in the superiority believed in the superiority over the Mexican over the Mexican government.government.

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AftermathAftermathAlthough the war ended in 1848 Although the war ended in 1848

it had lasting effects.it had lasting effects.During World War One the During World War One the

Germans tried to convince the Germans tried to convince the Mexican government to go to Mexican government to go to war with the U.S. promising they war with the U.S. promising they would reclaim their lands. would reclaim their lands.

This caused the U.S to enter This caused the U.S to enter WWI.WWI. 1414