Texas Independence and the War with Mexico

Roots of Texas IndependenceMexican gained their independence

from Spain in 1821…

• Security Concerns– Comanche and Apache raids.– Horse thieves.

• Empresarios– Land grant agents

• Offered land to farmers, mostly from the U.S.

– Stephen F. Austin

• At its height, 1,000 Americans were immigrating to Texas every month.

• Trade– Restrictions lifted to encourage

trade with USA.

Heightened DifferencesAs more and more American settlers moved in, the

majority of them spoke only English, not Spanish. The majority were Protestant, not Catholic. Furthermore, they brought slaves with them, even after Mexico clearly outlawed slavery in 1829.

• 1830– Mexico sealed its borders against further

American immigration from the USA.– Mexico passed large tariff on the

importation of American goods.

• 1833-35 Texas asks for greater self government.– Denied, Stephen F. Austin jailed.

The War for TexasIn 1836, Austin returned to Texas determined the war

would be his only recourse…

– Texans rebel• Santa Anna’s troops push northward to

crush revolt.

– Alamo• Texan troops attempt to cut Santa

Anna’s troops off before San Antonio.– Wiped out = 1500 massacred.

– San Jacinto• “Remember the Alamo!”• Huge victory for Texans• Santa Anna captured.

– Signs Treaty of Velasco at gun-point giving Texas independence

The Annexation of Texas• Sam Houston

– Elected first president of Texas, 1836.

– Asks U.S. to become state.

• Denied until 1845, when James K. Polk, a Southerner, is president.

• Mexican-American War– Breaks out in 1846

• Coincidence?

Disputed Land Claims in Texas

Nueces River

Rio Grande

Starting the War• 1845-46

– Polk sends John Slidell to Mexico to offer $25 million to buy California and New Mexico

• Mexican leader refused to receive him.

– Polk sends Gen. Zachary Taylor to blockade Rio Grande.

• Also sends John C. Fremont and exploratory party to California.

– Mexican troops crossed Rio Grande, engaged US troops.

• Polk – “American blood has been shed on American soil!”

– Congress declares war.

California and New Mexico• New Mexico

– Polk ordered Stephen Kearny to march his army west to Santa Fe.

• Greeted by pro-American sentiment.

• New Mexico fell without a single shot.

• California– Fremont marched

south to Sonoma– Declared “Bear Flag

Republic”– US forces controlled

California.

In Mexico

• General Winfield Scott invades Mexico.– One victory after another.– Captured Mexico City in 1847.

Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo

• USA gets half of Mexico! (USA pays $15 million)

• Border of Southern Texas = Rio Grande River.

• Continental USA completed with Gasden Purchase (1853) $10 million