The U.S. Mexican WarThe U.S. Mexican War

By: Tierra MillerBy: Tierra Miller

The Beginning………. The Beginning………. It all began in 1835, when North American settlers It all began in 1835, when North American settlers

in Texas started the battle for independence from in Texas started the battle for independence from Mexico. Mexico.

After six months of fighting, the Texan-Americans After six months of fighting, the Texan-Americans had won and declared the Republic of Texas. had won and declared the Republic of Texas.

Even though Mexico was defeated they would not Even though Mexico was defeated they would not formally recognize Texas as an independent formally recognize Texas as an independent republic. republic.

The main cause of the war was the desire of land. The main cause of the war was the desire of land. Around this time it was in the early 1800s, and the Around this time it was in the early 1800s, and the U.S. was rapidly gaining territory. U.S. was rapidly gaining territory.

The Beginning The Beginning ContinuedContinued

By the mid-1800s, the U.S. government wanted By the mid-1800s, the U.S. government wanted

even more landeven more land, , including the areas of present-including the areas of present-day Texas, New Mexico, and California. day Texas, New Mexico, and California.

During this time Mexico had owned these areas During this time Mexico had owned these areas which the U.S. desired. which the U.S. desired.

Another cause of war was the belief that God Another cause of war was the belief that God wanted the United States to control North wanted the United States to control North America from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific America from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. This belief called manifest destiny and Ocean. This belief called manifest destiny and many people believed in it. They didn’t care if many people believed in it. They didn’t care if Mexico or American Indians claimed it already. Mexico or American Indians claimed it already.

What is the U.S. Mexican What is the U.S. Mexican WarWar

The U.S. Mexican War is an event that took place The U.S. Mexican War is an event that took place because of the desire of land and a belief that a because of the desire of land and a belief that a certain area should control a certain area. This is certain area should control a certain area. This is also the reason why this event took place. also the reason why this event took place.

The U.S. had already been taken over lots of The U.S. had already been taken over lots of territory and they were just adding to there land. territory and they were just adding to there land. Usually if the U.S. wanted a certain peace of land Usually if the U.S. wanted a certain peace of land then they would often get it no matter if they had then they would often get it no matter if they had to get it the hard way or easy way.to get it the hard way or easy way.

Important people in the Important people in the War War

General Santa Anna was a General Santa Anna was a long-time ruler of Mexico. long-time ruler of Mexico.

He ruled with complete He ruled with complete power as a dictator. power as a dictator.

General Santa wanted General Santa wanted Texas to obey him so he Texas to obey him so he sent Mexican troops over sent Mexican troops over a river called the Rio a river called the Rio Grande. Grande.

He expected Texas to He expected Texas to give in to his orders but give in to his orders but instead this angered the instead this angered the settlers.settlers.

Important people of the Important people of the WarWar

Zachary Taylor was the Zachary Taylor was the general of the U.S. troops. He general of the U.S. troops. He was ordered by President was ordered by President James Polk to led 3500 troops James Polk to led 3500 troops to the Rio Grande.to the Rio Grande.

He earned the nickname “ Old He earned the nickname “ Old Rough and Ready” because heRough and Ready” because he was willing to suffer the same was willing to suffer the same hardship on the battlefield as hardship on the battlefield as the troops serving under him.the troops serving under him.

The general was a great The general was a great general, in the Battle of Palo general, in the Battle of Palo Alto in May of 1846 his Alto in May of 1846 his troops, the U.S., suffered nine troops, the U.S., suffered nine battle deaths compared to battle deaths compared to three-hundred twenty three-hundred twenty Mexican soldiers who Mexican soldiers who perished.perished.

Important people of the Important people of the WarWar

At the time that At the time that the war was going the war was going on the president of on the president of the U.S. was James the U.S. was James Polk. He really Polk. He really gave most of the gave most of the orders and led us orders and led us in the right in the right direction. direction.

Beginning of the WarBeginning of the War In November 1845, President Polk sent a In November 1845, President Polk sent a

representative, John Slidell, to negotiate a land representative, John Slidell, to negotiate a land settlement and avoid war with Mexico. He was settlement and avoid war with Mexico. He was suppose to offer $25 million to Mexico for suppose to offer $25 million to Mexico for California and New Mexico but the Mexicans California and New Mexico but the Mexicans had other plans. had other plans.

Instead of meeting with Slidell the newly Instead of meeting with Slidell the newly president of Mexico decided to refuse the meet. president of Mexico decided to refuse the meet. The Mexican government and its people felt that The Mexican government and its people felt that this was a battle they could win, so both sides this was a battle they could win, so both sides prepared for war. prepared for war.

…………..Continued..Continued

On May 8, Taylor led his army at Palo Alto, first On May 8, Taylor led his army at Palo Alto, first full-scale battle of the war was fought. Nine U.S. full-scale battle of the war was fought. Nine U.S. soldiers were killed and another 43 were soldiers were killed and another 43 were wounded. The Mexicans lost 200 lives and 125 wounded. The Mexicans lost 200 lives and 125 men were killed. men were killed.

The U.S. didn’t officially claim war on Mexico The U.S. didn’t officially claim war on Mexico until May 13, 1846. Many of the U.S. citizens until May 13, 1846. Many of the U.S. citizens supported the war to gain territory. Not all supported the war to gain territory. Not all people agreed with the war because they thought people agreed with the war because they thought that the U.S. was misusing its power.that the U.S. was misusing its power.

Middle of WarMiddle of War Life in the war hard for the U.S. soldiers because Life in the war hard for the U.S. soldiers because

most of them were in their late teens or early most of them were in their late teens or early 20s. Most of them joined because they wanted to 20s. Most of them joined because they wanted to experience glory and advantage but instead they experience glory and advantage but instead they faced with hot marches, boredom, illness, faced with hot marches, boredom, illness, injures, and death. injures, and death.

By September 1846 the U.S. army was advancing By September 1846 the U.S. army was advancing quickly and attacking from east to west. On the quickly and attacking from east to west. On the 2020thth of September attacked the Monterrey but of September attacked the Monterrey but was held off for about 24 hours. Finally on the was held off for about 24 hours. Finally on the 2424thth they surrendered the city of Monterrey. they surrendered the city of Monterrey.

…………Continued Continued By February 1847, the U.S. army 500 mi from Mexico By February 1847, the U.S. army 500 mi from Mexico

City in Buena Vista. At Buena Vista, they met troops City in Buena Vista. At Buena Vista, they met troops under Santa Anna’s command, but after one bloody day under Santa Anna’s command, but after one bloody day of fighting the Mexicans retreated. 500 Mexicans died of fighting the Mexicans retreated. 500 Mexicans died and about 750 U.S. soldiers were killed, wounded, or and about 750 U.S. soldiers were killed, wounded, or missing. missing.

In March of 1847, navy ships carried army General In March of 1847, navy ships carried army General Winfield Scott and 14,000 soldiers to the seaside city of Winfield Scott and 14,000 soldiers to the seaside city of Veracruz, Mexico. Scott hoped to get the war over before Veracruz, Mexico. Scott hoped to get the war over before the yellow fever season hit so it wouldn’t be a problem the yellow fever season hit so it wouldn’t be a problem for his troops. The U.S. believed they needed to capture for his troops. The U.S. believed they needed to capture Veracruz before attacking Mexico City.Veracruz before attacking Mexico City.

By September 10,1847 one of the world’s hardest battles By September 10,1847 one of the world’s hardest battles was fought at a hill in Chapultepec.was fought at a hill in Chapultepec.

War coming to an end War coming to an end In October 1847, Polk sent U.S. official Nicholas In October 1847, Polk sent U.S. official Nicholas

Trist to help General Winfield Scott arrange a Trist to help General Winfield Scott arrange a treaty with Mexico. On February 2, 1848 Pena, treaty with Mexico. On February 2, 1848 Pena, Scott, and Trist signed a agreement in the town Scott, and Trist signed a agreement in the town of Guadalupe Hidalgo. In the of Guadalupe of Guadalupe Hidalgo. In the of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the United Sates paid $15 million for Hidalgo, the United Sates paid $15 million for land to help Mexico rebuild itself. land to help Mexico rebuild itself.

By August the U.S. had withdrawn from Mexico. By August the U.S. had withdrawn from Mexico. The treaty gave the United States California and The treaty gave the United States California and New Mexico but the land made up to be what is New Mexico but the land made up to be what is now Nevada, Utah, parts of Arizona, Wyoming, now Nevada, Utah, parts of Arizona, Wyoming, and Colorado.and Colorado.

Primary Source Primary Source

This is the treaty This is the treaty document of document of Guadalupe, Hidalgo. Guadalupe, Hidalgo. It ended the war It ended the war between the U.S. between the U.S. and the Mexicans and the Mexicans and it also stated and it also stated that the U.S. had to that the U.S. had to pay for damages in pay for damages in Mexico, but the U.S. Mexico, but the U.S. won the territory.won the territory.

U.S. Mexican War MapsU.S. Mexican War Maps

This is a map of This is a map of where the fighting where the fighting took place. It took place. It shows where and shows where and who was fighting who was fighting in a certain area. in a certain area.

Bibliography Bibliography

http://images.google.com/images?gbhttp://images.google.com/images?gbv=2&svnum=10&hl=en&q=u.s.+mev=2&svnum=10&hl=en&q=u.s.+mexican+war+maps&btnG=Search+Ixican+war+maps&btnG=Search+Imagesmages

Bronwyn Mills, U.S.- Mexican War, Bronwyn Mills, U.S.- Mexican War, 973.6 Mills 973.6 Mills

Susan E. Haberle, The Mexican War Susan E. Haberle, The Mexican War 1846-1848, Let Freedom Ring 1846-1848, Let Freedom Ring