THE MEXICAN

WAR & ITS AFTERMATH

CAUSES OF WAR:• Manifest Destiny

– the prevailing expansionist spirit– confidence from overwhelming advantages of size &

wealth•Mexico’s default on debts owed the US•Break in diplomatic relations with Mexico when U.S. annexed Texas, 1845•Dispute over the southern boundary of Texas

–U.S. - at the Rio Grande River–Mexico - farther north (150 miles) at the Nueces

River

Taylor & 1500 troops go to Corpus Christi on the Nueces inTaylor & 1500 troops go to Corpus Christi on the Nueces in

July 1845 & wait on negotiations July 1845 & wait on negotiations (Slidell offers $25 mill for CA & NM)(Slidell offers $25 mill for CA & NM)

Polk orderedPolk orderedGen. Zachary TaylorGen. Zachary Taylorto defend Texas boundaryto defend Texas boundary

THE SPARK!THE SPARK!• Negotiations with

Mexico fail & Gen. Zachary Taylor takes troops (4,000 now) down to Rio Grande River by March, 1846

• Mexicans crossed river on April 25 & attacked.

• What were Rep. Lincoln’s “spot resolutions” in 1847?

• Polk tells Congress“War Exists!”

“Mr. Polk’s War”POLK’S 3-PART STRATEGY:

1) INVADE NORTHERN MEXICO

GEN. ZACHARY TAYLOR - to clear Mexicansfrom TX & occupy northern Mexico

“Old Rough & Ready” pushes 300 miles deep into Mexico

2) TAKE POSSESSION OF CA & NMGEN. STEPHEN KEARNY - takes Santa Fe, NM & then Los Angeles, CA;

3) TAKE THE CAPITAL, MEXICO CITY

GEN. WINFIELD SCOTT

Scott lands in Vera Cruz in March,

1847 & it surrenders in less than 3

weeks

Battle of Chapultepec

September 13, 1847

•U.S. forces assaulted the Mexican Military Academy, a fortress known as Chapultepec, which guarded the gates to Mexico City.

– One of first major engagements for the Marines.

•Mexicans inside fought valiantly but were outgunned, out-numbered, overrun and nearly all killed..•Six young cadets refused to surrender or retreat, fighting to the end: they have been immortalized as the "Niños Héroes," or "Hero Children" in Mexico.

– One even wrapped himself in the Mexican flag and leapt to his death from the walls, just so that the Americans would not be able to take it in battle.

The San Patricios (St. Patrick’s Brigade)

The San Patricios were former U.S. soldiers who left the American army and fought for the Mexicans. Most were Irish Catholics who felt that they should be fighting for Catholic Mexico instead of the USA. The Battalion had been crushed at the Battle of Churubusco on August 20: all of its members were dead, captured or scattered in and around Mexico City. Most of those that had been captured were tried and sentenced to death by hanging. 30 of them had been standing with nooses around their necks for hours. As the American flag was raised over Chapultepec, the men were hanged: it was meant to be the last thing they ever saw.

SCOTT’S TROOPS OCCUPY MEXICO CITY, 1847It had taken 6 months of fighting to take the capital. Scott’s forcesincluded young military officers, Ulysses S. Grant & Robert E. Lee

“The Halls of Montezuma”• On September 14, Gen. Winfield Scott marched his army into

Mexico City and raised the American flag over the Mexican National Palace-the "Halls of Montezuma" later celebrated in the famous Marine's Hymn.

• For the first time in U.S. history, the Stars and Stripes flew over a foreign capital.

• Santa Anna fled.

Santa Anna lost his leg in 1838 in a battle against French forces in Mexico and thereafter used a cork leg. (His real leg was given a state funeral!)

In April, 1847, Santa Anna fought a bloody battle against the Americans where 1,000 Mexican soldiers were killed and 3,000 wounded. Santa Anna was forced to retreat, and in the process, he failed to bring his artificial leg with him.

An Illinois regiment captured Santa Anna’s cork leg and proudly carried it back to their home state where it resides today. The Mexican government continues to request the return of Santa Anna’s leg.

• Americans were outnumbered in every major engagement in this war, but always took more casualties than the Mexicans did.

• Polk had to deal with anti-war sentiment during this war.– From who?– Why opposed?

TREATY OF GUADALUPE

HIDALGO

• Mexico lost over 50% of its territory and 1% of its population in this cession

• US gets full title to TX, with southern boundary at the Rio Grande River

• US pays $15 million for CA & NM• US assumes $3,250,000 of Mexican

government’s debts• Treaty negotiated by Nicholas Trist

EFFECTS OF THE WAR:EFFECTS OF THE WAR:• HUGE NEW TERRITORY!HUGE NEW TERRITORY!• ZACHARY TAYLOR, “Old ZACHARY TAYLOR, “Old

Rough & Ready,” WHIG, Rough & Ready,” WHIG, WINS ELECTION OF 1848WINS ELECTION OF 1848– Against Democrat Lewis Cass– Against Democrat Lewis Cass–

Popular SovereigntyPopular Sovereignty• FREE SOIL PARTY IS FREE SOIL PARTY IS

FORMED (ran Van Buren)FORMED (ran Van Buren)

"An Available Candidate." General Zachary Taylor, Presidential Candidate Perched Atop a Pyramid of Skulls. (1848).

"Justice, Union, Peace" (1848).

First Presidential Campaign Poster in U.S. Politics

-Taylor had no platform

-1st election he ever voted in!

• MORE MANIFESTDESTINY!

• GOLD RUSH, 1849• DRESS REHEARSAL FOR CIVIL WAR

LEADERS• U.S. PRESTIGE: EUROPE , LATIN AM. • SLAVERY & SECESSION ISSUES

RESURFACE:– WILMOT PROVISWILMOT PROVISO! O! – what did it say?– COMPROMISE OF 1850

• GADSDEN PURCHASE, 1853– US purchases strip of NM & AZ for $10 million– low part of the Rockies– US can now build a railroad route to CA

COMPROMISE OF 1850

Old and feeble, Henry Clay presents his 1850 compromise to the Senate, Future President Millard Fillmore (presiding), John C. Calhoun (right of Fillmore), and Daniel Webster (head in hand) listen intently. Drawing by Peter Rothermel. Public domain image

COMPROMISE OF 1850• California sought admission as a free state –

would have upset balance of power in Senate;

S threatens secession• Compromise designed by Henry Clay• PROVISIONS FAVORING THE NORTH:

– California admitted as a free state• Free states now outnumber slave states

– Territory disputed by TX & NM surrendered by TX to NM

– All future slave TRADING prohibited in Washington, D.C.

• PROVISIONS FAVORING THE SOUTH:– Slave ownership still allowed in D.C.– Stronger Fugitive Slave Law

• Designed to suppress the Underground RR• Slave owners didn’t have to prove

ownership to get slaves returned• Slaves had no right to testify• North totally opposed & passed “personal

liberty laws” which forbade the capture and return of runaway slaves

– TX receives $10 million (compensation for NM land)

Provision that could benefit either the North or the South:

• Mexican cession would be divided into 2 territories: UT & NM

• Slavery would be decided in these 2 territories by popular sovereignty

• Stephen Douglas responsible for passage of Stephen Douglas responsible for passage of Compromise of 1850Compromise of 1850

• P Taylor opposed the CompromiseP Taylor opposed the Compromise– But, Taylor died in July 1850 But, Taylor died in July 1850 – P Fillmore signs billP Fillmore signs bill