Mexican War

Calder LloydStephen Goldsman

Michele Scott

Migration

• Migration into western areas from US picked up in the 1830’s and 1840’s

• They believed it was there Devine Mission

Annexation of Texas

• 1836, Texans won independence from Mexico • Texans wanted to be annexed by the US • Annexed: joined in the union

Annexation of Texas: Northerners vs. Southerners

• Southerners and Democrats agreed on letting Texas join the union

• More slave states for south

• Northerners and Whigs didn’t want the annexation

• Made south more powerful

• Both , though feared a war with Mexico

Annexation of Texas: John Tyler & James Polk

• James Polk stated that the Americans should have more land/territory and that majority of Americans wanted more land

• annexation was passed

• Month later Mexico broke

off relations with U.S.

John Tyler drew up a treaty of annexationDidn’t pass because of the Whig majority

in the senate 

War with Mexico

• March 1845 Mexico broke off diplomatic relations with U.S.

• Mexico claimed the Nueces River• President Polk and other Southern Democrats wanted

more than just TexasPolk sent John Slidell to offer 30 million $ to buy New Mexico and California

War with Mexico

• Polk sent 3,000 troops under Zachary Taylor into Southern Texas

• Mexico viewed this as an invasion and prepared for action

• May 13th, 1846 the Mexican War begins

Bear Flag Revolt

• The revolt was led by William B. Ide• On June 14 settlers launched a surprise

attack on the town of SonomaThe settler’s flag is a bear with a star on it which is why the revolt is called the bear

flag revolt• In July 1846, United States crossed into

New Mexico

Bear Flag Revolt

• In July 1846, United States crossed into New Mexico

• After occupying Santa Fe, General Kearny took part of his army and marched west to California

• By January 1847 the United States had taken control of New Mexico and California

Fighting in Mexico

• While crossing the Rio Grande, General Taylor won a series of victories, leading to the Battle of Buena Vista in February 1847

• Here he met Santa Anna, who had an army of 20,000 Mexican troops north from Mexico City

• Taylor’s army wan the battle, which left hundreds killed and wounded on both sides

Fighting in Mexico

• In March 1847, Scott captured the port city Veracruz

• Then he marched his army of 10,000 men toward Mexico City

• After fierce fighting, Scott defeated Santa Anna’s forces and captured the Mexican capital

Treaty of Guadelupe Hidalgo• Signed Feb 2 1848

• Mexico gave up it’s claim to Texas and madethe Rio Grande the southern border of Texas.

• Mexico gave New Mexico + California• more than 2/5 of it’s territory) to the U.S. • The U.S. paid Mexico 15 million • The U.S. agreed to pay claims made by American citizens against

Mexicans, which would amount to more than 3 million.

Gadsden Purchase

• Mexican government sold 30,000 square miles of New Mexico and Arizona to America for $10 million

Discussion of Oregon

• Established the boundaries of America and Mexico

The Effects of the Mexican War

• Shoved slavery into American politics

• The Civil War