1846-18481846-1848

War With MexicoWar With Mexico“I“Ivasión Yanqui”vasión Yanqui”

Causes of Causes of WarWar

Annexation of TexasAnnexation of Texas

US citizens in Mexico US citizens in Mexico make claims against make claims against the Mexican Gov’tthe Mexican Gov’t

Desire to acquire CaliforniaDesire to acquire California

Nueces River DisputeNueces River Dispute

TexasTexas::Southern Southern Border at the Border at the Rio GrandeRio Grande

MexicoMexico:: Northern Border Northern Border

at the Nuecesat the Nueces

~ ~ 100 miles 100 miles discrepancydiscrepancy

John SlidellJohn Slidell

Diplomat Diplomat

Goals:Goals:– boundary adjustments boundary adjustments

in TX (Rio Grande)in TX (Rio Grande)– purchase CA & NMpurchase CA & NM

Refused by MexicoRefused by Mexico

James K. James K. PolkPolk

Bullies a weaker Bullies a weaker nation to extend nation to extend slaveryslavery

““Polk the Purposeful” Polk the Purposeful” sets a trapsets a trap

Withheld details from Withheld details from congress, negotiated congress, negotiated with Santa Annawith Santa Anna

President Polk prepares to take his slice of Mexico's territorial pie.President Polk prepares to take his slice of Mexico's territorial pie.

Controversial WarControversial WarCritics

An act of An act of aggressionaggression

A strong nation A strong nation attacking a weak attacking a weak one to force one to force concessions unable concessions unable to be negotiatedto be negotiated

Supporters Justified as the Justified as the

preservation of preservation of fundamental fundamental beliefsbeliefs

– ““Manifest Destiny”Manifest Destiny”

Also the question of “who started it?”

Ultimately, Mexican-American War divided the nationTarnished the US’s international reputation

How are Americans viewed today?(Internationally, foreign policy)

How does this war shape the culture of the modern Southwest?(inter-cultural relations, trust of the government)

PropagandaPropaganda

Daily newspapers, Daily newspapers, printed on printed on rotary presses, rotary presses, gave the war a gave the war a romantic romantic appeal.appeal.

The Human TollThe Human Toll

The U.S. Army Crosses a MountainThe U.S. Army Crosses a Mountain

The Return of Santa The Return of Santa AnnaAnna

1844, ousted as pres.1844, ousted as pres.

Exiled in CubaExiled in Cuba

Polk scheme cooperationPolk scheme cooperation

Went back on his word, Went back on his word, resumed Mex Presidencyresumed Mex Presidency

Commanded an attack on Commanded an attack on Taylor at Buena VistaTaylor at Buena Vista

Antonio Lopez De Santa Anna Antonio Lopez De Santa Anna Circa 1845Circa 1845 Circa 1858Circa 1858

General Taylor pictured on a white horse at the battle of General Taylor pictured on a white horse at the battle of

Buena Vista.Buena Vista.

Zachary TaylorZachary Taylor General, highly General, highly

successful in warsuccessful in war

Later political Later political successsuccess

Zachary Taylor’s Early Zachary Taylor’s Early SuccessSuccess

Victory, Victory, VictoryVictory, Victory, Victory Mexicans fought hard, Mexicans fought hard,

but were poorly led and fundedbut were poorly led and funded

Winfield Scott picked up where Winfield Scott picked up where Taylor left offTaylor left off

More victoriesMore victories

Polk Brings in Winfield Polk Brings in Winfield ScottScott

Polk threatened by Taylor’s success & Polk threatened by Taylor’s success & ambitionambition

Winfield ScottWinfield Scott Mexico CityMexico City Gets the GloryGets the Glory Also later political successAlso later political success

Birds-Eye View of the Camp of the “Army of Occupation”

Commanded by General Taylor

Taylor v. ScottTaylor v. Scott““Old Fuss and Feathers”Old Fuss and Feathers”General Winfield ScottGeneral Winfield Scott,, a stickler for a stickler for

propriety and order, was widely known as propriety and order, was widely known as "Old Fuss and Feathers." "Old Fuss and Feathers."

““Old Rough and Ready”Old Rough and Ready”General Zachary Taylor, greatly admired for his informality and calm courage, succeeded Polk to the presidency

““Old Rough Old Rough and Ready”and Ready”

““Old Fuss Old Fuss and and

Feathers”Feathers”

War Divides AmericansWar Divides Americans DemocratsDemocrats

– SouthernSouthern– Wanted new slave territories, increased power Wanted new slave territories, increased power

in congressin congress– i.e. i.e.

WhigsWhigs– NorthernNorthern– Anti-slave, many anti-Mexican WarAnti-slave, many anti-Mexican War– i.e. Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, David i.e. Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, David

Crockett, Abraham LincolnCrockett, Abraham Lincoln

When he questioned the When he questioned the war with Mexico and war with Mexico and asked if any battle had asked if any battle had truly been fought on truly been fought on American soil, this first-American soil, this first-term Congressman was term Congressman was branded the “Benedict branded the “Benedict Arnold” of his district, Arnold” of his district, and denied reelection.and denied reelection.

Who is he?Who is he?

A young Abraham A young Abraham LincolnLincoln

This former This former President argued, President argued, like many others, like many others, that the Mexican that the Mexican War would result War would result in the spread of in the spread of slavery.slavery.

Who is he?Who is he?

Congressman John Congressman John Quincy AdamsQuincy Adams

Recently defeated for the Recently defeated for the 55thth time in his campaign time in his campaign for the presidency, this for the presidency, this famous Whig called the famous Whig called the War with Mexico War with Mexico unnatural, unsettled and unnatural, unsettled and uncertain, “menacing uncertain, “menacing the harmony, if not the the harmony, if not the existence of our Union.” existence of our Union.”

Who is he?Who is he?

The Great Compromiser, The Great Compromiser, Henry ClayHenry Clay

His objections to the war His objections to the war were turned into a were turned into a classic essay on the classic essay on the moral responsibilities moral responsibilities of citizens. He refused of citizens. He refused to pay pole tax to fund to pay pole tax to fund a war he did not agree a war he did not agree with and called it with and called it Civil Civil DisobedienceDisobedience..

Who is he? Who is he?

Transcendentalist Transcendentalist Writer, Henry David Writer, Henry David ThoreauThoreau

War Divides AmericansWar Divides AmericansMassachusetts legislator Charles Massachusetts legislator Charles

SumnerSumner

“The lives of Mexicans are sacrificed in this cause; and a domestic question, which should be reserved for bloodless debate in our own country, is transferred to fields of battle in a foreign land.”

Treaty of Guadalupe - Treaty of Guadalupe - HidalgoHidalgo

Peace treaty, ended the warPeace treaty, ended the war Mexican CessionMexican Cession

– 55% of Mexico’s pre-war territory went to the US 55% of Mexico’s pre-war territory went to the US US paid $15 million US paid $15 million

– equivalent to $313 million in 2006 USDequivalent to $313 million in 2006 USD Ensured safety and pre-existing property rights Ensured safety and pre-existing property rights

for Mexican Citizens in transferred territories for Mexican Citizens in transferred territories – US, in many cases, failed to honor this US, in many cases, failed to honor this

Mexican CessionMexican Cession The land Mexico ceded The land Mexico ceded

(gave up) to the US(gave up) to the US

Covered what are Covered what are now CA, NV, UT, now CA, NV, UT, and parts of four and parts of four other states. other states.

What’s still missing here?What’s still missing here?

Gadsden PurchaseGadsden Purchase Remainder of AZ & Remainder of AZ &

NMNM

Purchased by James Purchased by James GadsdenGadsden– sent by President sent by President

Franklin PierceFranklin Pierce

Battle of Cerro Gordo

The end of the warThe end of the war General Scott’s entrance to MexicoGeneral Scott’s entrance to MexicoWhat’s going on here?What’s going on here?

General Stephen Watts General Stephen Watts KearneyKearney

Between the western Between the western frontier of the US and the frontier of the US and the coveted province of Upper coveted province of Upper CA lay the vast tract CA lay the vast tract known as “Nuevo Mexico.” known as “Nuevo Mexico.”

Taken virtually without Taken virtually without bloodshed by Brigadier bloodshed by Brigadier General Stephen Kearney General Stephen Kearney and the Army of the West.and the Army of the West.

On their way to California in the fall of 1846, General On their way to California in the fall of 1846, General Kearney's men pass San Felipe Pueblo, New Mexico.Kearney's men pass San Felipe Pueblo, New Mexico.

The Bear Flag RepublicThe Bear Flag RepublicBear Flag revolt on June 14, 1846 ended Mexican rule over California. Thirty-

three American adventurers from the Sacramento Valley seized General Vallejo and took over Sonoma.

Polk tried to Purchase CA from MexicoMexico refused, but when Kearney and Fremont

arrived from NM, Mexican Troops gave way

Saint Patrick’s Saint Patrick’s BattalionBattalion

““San Patricio”San Patricio” Mexico’s Fighting Mexico’s Fighting

IrishIrish

Deserters of the US Deserters of the US troops for abuses troops for abuses and prejudiceand prejudice

Juan, or Jose O’ReillyJuan, or Jose O’ReillyUnsatisfied about fighting a Catholic country Fed up with the bigotry and mistreatment by their Anglo-Protestant officersHundreds of Irish immigrant soldiers stood for what they believed in and aided the oppressed Mexico troops.

Mexico, a “Proving Mexico, a “Proving Ground”Ground”

Captain Robert E. LeeCaptain Robert E. Lee

Robert E. Lee Robert E. Lee

Thomas J. "Stonewall" Thomas J. "Stonewall" JacksonJackson

William T. Sherman William T. Sherman

Ulysses S. GrantUlysses S. Grant

Mexico, a “Proving Mexico, a “Proving Ground”Ground”

Lieutenant Ulysses Lieutenant Ulysses S. Grant heading S. Grant heading off to fight in the off to fight in the Mexican WarMexican War

Ornamental Map of the United States and Mexico, 1848- Panoramic View Ornamental Map of the United States and Mexico, 1848- Panoramic View from New York to the Pacific Coast by the Contemplated Oregon Railroadfrom New York to the Pacific Coast by the Contemplated Oregon Railroad