MANIFEST DESTINY AND THE MEXICAN WAR

By: Tess Flinner

Fact 1: Manifest Destiny was the belief that America was destined to expand across the continent.

What in the world was Manifest Destiny?

This is a painting that shows Manifest destiny by John Gast, called American Progress. It illustrates Columbia, the old female figure of the U.S, leading American settlers westward.

Fact 2: Eventually Manifest Destiny, or American expansionism, lead to angering Mexico, which lead to the Mexican war.

Fact 3: The war was fought between the Americans and the Mexicans.

Why did the Mexican war happen???

Naturally, Mexico claimed the Texas and California regions, so when America began to push into Texas for its agricultural resources, hostilities began. America had no real interest in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah or Nevada, but conquering these territories was necessary in order to reach the Pacific by railroad, which was the original dream.

Fact 4: The war took place in 1846 to 1848.

When exactly, did the Mexican war take place?

Timeline of the Mexican War

1846

1848

May 13, war declaration formally signed by congress

June, American forces capture Sonoma and raise the bear flag of California

July, John Sloat captures Monterey and San Francisco

August 18, Santa Fe is captured

September 21, attack launched on Matamoros

1847

August, Winfield Scott reaches outskirts of Mexico city

September, Scott attacks Mexico city

February 2, treaty of Guadalupe hidalgo signed

Fact 5: They mainly fought over California and Texas.

Where did they fight?

In the beginning, America captured Monterey, California, in the Battle of Monterey. There were also many other battles over California, such as the Battle of Rio San Gabriel, the Battle of La Mesa, and the siege of Los Angeles.

Mexican-American War video