Mexican American War
Strained relations with Mexico after U.S.
involvement with Texas and California Border disputed between Mexico and southern
Texas Was it the Nueces River or the Rio Grande? 1845 Polk told Z. Taylor to take the army into
the disputed territory Pres. Polk sent John Slidell to Mexico to settle
disputed territory Mexico Refused to negotiate
Causes
1846 Gen Z. Taylor leads troops to the Rio
Grande River and made camp directly across the river from the Mexican Army.
Taylor and the American Army are asked to withdraw from Mexican Territory
Taylor refused and the two sides fought. 2 days later U.S. Congress declares war on
Mexico
War Starts
U.S. had better weapons and equipment, but
were outnumbered Call for American volunteers and many
(200,000) came out looking for adventure Many supported the war
Whigs – thought it was unjustified and avoidable
Abolitionists thought it would extend slavery
War Statistics
Americans are winning battles successfully
and gaining control of territory that belonged to Mexico
U.S. won the Battle of Nueces River Gen. Stephen Kearny captured Santa Fe for
the U.S.
War
1846 A small number of Americans were living in
California (500 to 12,000) Americans seized control of the town of Sonoma
and stole from the Mexican military Americans declared California to be an
independent nation General Fremont led the nearby portion of the
American army to the defense of Sonoma 1847 with the support of the American Navy many
of California’s coastal cites came under American control
Bear Flag Revolt – War within a War
General Taylor received his re-enforcements
and marched further into Mexico Buena Vista
February 1847 Heavy casualties Mexican Army Retreated Taylor = war hero
Ending the War
Veracruz
March 29, 1847 General Winfield Scott Fort fell after 88 hours of artillery attack by
U.S. August 1847 American troops were on the
edge of Mexico City Fierce fighting in Mexico City Mexico City fell to Americans on September
14, 1847 and Santa Anna fled.
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo – officially ended
the war and forced Mexico to turn over much of its northern territory to the U.S. California, Nevada, and Utah, Most of Arizona
and New Mexico, parts of Colorado, Wyoming, and Texas
U.S. paid Mexico $15 million for the territory, and paid $3 million in claims owed to Americans by the Mexican government.
American Settlement in the Mexican
Cession
Gadsden Purchase – U.S. government paid
Mexico $10 million in exchange the U.S. received the southern parts of what are now Arizona and New Mexico In order to build a railroad connecting California
to Texas
After the War many Americans moved to settle
the southwest Many Mexicans, Mexican Americans, and Native
Americans faced discrimination from the new comers Disputes over property
Many disputes over water rights because of the dry climate and the need for farming Good of community over individual