War Chart: Mexican-American War

1846-1848

Causes• Manifest Destiny• Texas (was part of

Mexico, independent in 1836, annexed to U.S. in 1845 – Mexico unhappy about all of it)

• U.S. offered to buy California for $5 mill., then $25 mill. – Mexico insulted

Spark• Pres. Polk orders Zachary Taylor to

cross Nueces River and wait to be attacked

• It happens April 25, 1846

Strategy• Americans

• Use Navy as well as Land forces• California• Mexico City

• Attack Mexico City• Fight until you get where

you’re going

Mexico

• Guerilla tactics• Constantly train new troops• 20,000 trained for Mexico City alone

Key/Turning Point Battles

• Santa Fe (1846)• Monterey (1846)• Buena Vista

(1847)• Mexico City (Sep.

1847)• Actually a series

of battles

Heroes (and Goats)

• Americans• Zachary Taylor• Stephen Kearney• Winfield Scott• James K. Polk

Mexican Heroats

• Santa Anna• 4 boys at Chapultepec• US Army deserters (Saint Patrick’s

Battalion)

Costs ($ and Lives)

• Americans• Over 13,000 dead• $70 Mill ($1.1 bill. Different

conversion rate based on per capita income of U.S. residents)

Cost cont.• Mexicans• Over 25,000 dead – according to

some estimates, may be higher

Treaty

• Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (Feb. 2, 1848)

• Terms• Gives California, Arizona,

New Mexico, and Nevada to U.S.

• Mexico gives up Texas and sets boundary at Rio Grande

• U.S. pays Mexico $15 mill. for land we took

Non-Treaty Results/Long-term Significance

• Proves worth of U.S. military academies

• More respect for U.S. military power

• Bad relations with Latin America

• Slavery extension to new territories

• Gave experience to young officers who are anxious for more war