Download - Tx history-ch-16.1
Chapter 16: Western Expansion and Conflict
Section 1: The Mexican War
Fighting Breaks Out
•1845: Mexicans angry about annexation and signing of the Texas admission Act
•Mexicans feared U.S. expansion
Fighting Breaks Out
• Mexico claimed the Nueces River separated Texas and Mexico
• U.S. citizens wanted paid for damages
Fighting Breaks Out
• Expulsion of U.S. settlers from California
• November 1845: Mexico refuses to meet with U.S. diplomat John Slidell
John Slidell
Fighting Breaks Out
•President Polk ordered General Zachary Taylor and thousands of U.S. troops into Texas
President James K. Polk
Fighting Breaks Out
•Zachary Taylor—commander of U.S. forces in Texas when the Mexican War began
Zachary Taylor
Fighting Breaks Out
•Late March 1846: arrives along Rio Grande and discovers Mexican troops encamped across river
•Early April 1846: Mexican general orders Taylor to return east of the Nueces
Fighting Breaks Out
• April 25, 1846: First action of war takes place when Mexican forces crossed the Rio Grande and attacked U.S. troops in Texas
• Polk: “American blood has been shed on American soil"
Fighting Breaks Out
•May 13, 1846: Congress declares war on Mexico
•May 8-9, 1846: Taylor had already defeated the Mexicans in two battles
Texans in the Mexican War
• Santa Anna was leader of the Mexican forces during the war
• Some 6,000 Texans volunteered for the war
Antonio López de Santa Anna
Texans in the Mexican War
Gov. James Pinckney Henderson temporarily left
office to fight in the war
Texans in the Mexican War
•Texas Revolution veteran Juan Seguín fled to Mexico and was forced to fight in the Mexican Army
Juan Seguín
Texans in the Mexican War
Famous Texas Rangers that fought in the Mexican War
John “Rip” Ford John Coffee Hays
Texans in the Mexican War
•Refused to follow orders from U.S. Army officers
•Attacked Mexican villages
•Los diablos Tejanos
A U.S. Victory
•Offensive—a major troop advance
•Santa Anna demanded surrender
•Victories at Buena Vista & Monterrey
A U.S. Victory
• General Winfield Scott’s strategy: landing forces in Monterrey and marching them inland to Mexico City
General Winfield Scott
A U.S. Victory
• General Scott: captured Mexico City
• Other U.S. forces captured New Mexico & California
• The war ended when Mexico City was captured by U.S. troops.
A U.S. Victory
•13,000 American troops lost their lives
•Most U.S. soldiers died from disease
•War cost the U.S. $98 million