Mexican American War

Strained relations with Mexico after U.S.

involvement with Texas and California Border disputed between Mexico and southern

Texas Was it the Nueces River or the Rio Grande? 1845 Polk told Z. Taylor to take the army into

the disputed territory Pres. Polk sent John Slidell to Mexico to settle

disputed territory Mexico Refused to negotiate

Causes

1846 Gen Z. Taylor leads troops to the Rio

Grande River and made camp directly across the river from the Mexican Army.

Taylor and the American Army are asked to withdraw from Mexican Territory

Taylor refused and the two sides fought. 2 days later U.S. Congress declares war on

Mexico

War Starts

U.S. had better weapons and equipment, but

were outnumbered Call for American volunteers and many

(200,000) came out looking for adventure Many supported the war

Whigs – thought it was unjustified and avoidable

Abolitionists thought it would extend slavery

War Statistics

Americans are winning battles successfully

and gaining control of territory that belonged to Mexico

U.S. won the Battle of Nueces River Gen. Stephen Kearny captured Santa Fe for

the U.S.

War

1846 A small number of Americans were living in

California (500 to 12,000) Americans seized control of the town of Sonoma

and stole from the Mexican military Americans declared California to be an

independent nation General Fremont led the nearby portion of the

American army to the defense of Sonoma 1847 with the support of the American Navy many

of California’s coastal cites came under American control

Bear Flag Revolt – War within a War

General Taylor received his re-enforcements

and marched further into Mexico Buena Vista

February 1847 Heavy casualties Mexican Army Retreated Taylor = war hero

Ending the War

Veracruz

March 29, 1847 General Winfield Scott Fort fell after 88 hours of artillery attack by

U.S. August 1847 American troops were on the

edge of Mexico City Fierce fighting in Mexico City Mexico City fell to Americans on September

14, 1847 and Santa Anna fled.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo – officially ended

the war and forced Mexico to turn over much of its northern territory to the U.S. California, Nevada, and Utah, Most of Arizona

and New Mexico, parts of Colorado, Wyoming, and Texas

U.S. paid Mexico $15 million for the territory, and paid $3 million in claims owed to Americans by the Mexican government.

American Settlement in the Mexican

Cession

Gadsden Purchase – U.S. government paid

Mexico $10 million in exchange the U.S. received the southern parts of what are now Arizona and New Mexico In order to build a railroad connecting California

to Texas

After the War many Americans moved to settle

the southwest Many Mexicans, Mexican Americans, and Native

Americans faced discrimination from the new comers Disputes over property

Many disputes over water rights because of the dry climate and the need for farming Good of community over individual