Cause and Effect The MexicanAmerican War Objective Determining

Cause and Effect The Mexican-American War Objective : Determining the causes of the Mexican American War

5. James Monroe • Democrat James K. Polk won 6. John Quincy the election of 1844 Adams & became the “Manifest 7. Andrew Destiny” president: Jackson 8. Martin – He urged Congress to make Van Buren Texas the 28 th U. S. state in 9. William H. 1845 Harrison 10. John Tyler – He wanted to end British 11. James K. claims to Oregon Polk

Election of 1844 • • • President John Tyler favored the annexation of Texas. But Tyler proved unpopular. In 1844, the Whigs nominated Henry Clay for President instead. Clay hoped to avoid the issue of annexation. But the democratic candidate, James K. Polk, called for the annexation of both Texas and Oregon. At the time, Oregon was jointly held by Britain and the United States. Polk demanded that the British withdraw from all territory south of latitude 54 40’N. Polk, the candidate of expansion, won the election. Shortly before Polk took office, • Tyler asked Congress to annex Texas. Congress voted for admission of Texas as a state in 1845, three days before Tyler left office. A convention of • Texan delegates quickly met and voted for annexation. In keeping with his campaign promise, President Polk negotiated a treaty with Britain to divide • Oregon. The United States got the lands south of latitude 49 N. Eventually, this territory became the states of Washington, Oregon, and part of Idaho.

U. S. -Mexico Disputes • The Annexation of Texas by the U. S. angered the Mexican Government. • Mexico never acknowledged Texas as independent and felt the U. S. had no right to take its territory. • Mexico also did not acknowledge the Treaty of Velasco which set the southern border of Texas as the Rio Grande.

• The loss of Texas will inevitably result in the loss of New Mexico and the Californias. Little by little our territory will be absorbed until only an insignificant part is left to us. . Our national existence. . . will end like those weak meteors that, from time to time, shine fitfully in the firmament (sky) and disappear. -José Maria Tornel y Mendivil

The U. S. and Texas considered the Rio Grande as the Southern border. For Mexico it was the Nueces Area in Dispute Nueces River Rio Grande River

• Why would the Mexican government not accept the treaty of Velasco? – Santa Anna only signed the treaty of Velasco because his life was in danger.

Manifest Destiny • Another issue with Mexico was Manifest Destiny. • The land that the United States desired out west (California especially) was all controlled by Mexico.

The U. S. Perspective • Most Americans sympathized with Texas during the Texas revolution and republic days because most Texans were former Americans. • As a result of the brutal fighting (at the Alamo, Massacre at Goliad, and other times) the American public developed negative stereotypes against the Mexican people and Stereotype: A belief that is incorrectly government attributed to an entire group of people

Effort to ease the tensions • After Texas Annexation, Mexico threatened war. • U. S. President James K. Polk sent John Slidell to Mexico to work for better relations between the two countries. John Slidell

Slidell’s Mission 1) Get Mexican recognition of the Rio Grande as the border between Mexico and the United States 2) To forgive about $4. 5 million owed to U. S. citizens by Mexico from the Mexican War of Independence 3) To discuss the purchase of the New Mexico and California (offered 30 million) • The Mexican government refused to talk with Slidell which angered the U. S.

• A company of U. S. Calvary The Thornton Affair commanded by Captain Seth Thornton got into a skirmish with Mexican forces near the Rio Grande. • Thornton was ordered to scout an area about twenty miles northwest of what later became Brownsville, Texas. In April 1846, the Calvary, investigated an abandoned hacienda (Ranch). • Some two thousand Mexican soldiers were encamped in and around the hacienda, and a firefight occurred. Both sides Thornton was outnumbered fought ferociously, but the greatly By about 1900 men. outnumbered U. S. force was forced to surrender after several Skirmish: A small battle hours of skirmishing.

Presidents Polk’s Response • President Polk asked for a declaration of war before a joint session of the United States Congress, summing up the need for war by famously stating: – "American blood has been shed on American soil". Member opposed war: such as Abraham Lincoln “Spot Resolution” ( Can you tell the exact spot blood was shed? Was it on American or Mexican soil? Or Ulysses S. Grant- ploy to get land for America (greed) and extension of slavery. • Congress declared war on Mexico, despite protests by the Mexican government that Thornton had crossed the border into Mexican Texas — a border that Mexico claimed as the Nueces River. the ensuing Mexican. American War was waged from 1846 -1848 and witnessed the loss of many thousands of lives and nearly half of the territory of Mexico.

Further Discussion-Think-Pair. Share • General Ulysses S. Grant, who later commanded the Union forces during the Civil War, called the Mexican War. one of the most unjust ever waged by a stronger against a weaker nation. . He viewed the annexation of Texas as a conspiracy to acquire territory out of which slave states might be formed for the American Union. . He also believed the Mexican Wars, he wrote, . The Southern rebellion was largely the outgrowth of the Mexican War. Nations, like individuals, are punished for their transgressions. We got our punishment in the most sanguinary and expensive war of modern times. . Questions • Did the Mexican War move America toward freedom? Why or why not? Do you agree with General Grant? Why or why not?

• US Problems with Mexico 1) Americans had a negative view of Mexico because of the Texas Revolution 2) Mexico owed the U. S. money for the Mexican Revolution against Spain • Mexican Problems with US. 1) Mexico felt that Texas was being stolen from them. 2) Mexico didn’t believe in Manifest Destiny and didn’t want to give away their land.

Vote Yes-Declare War • Treaty of Velasco is valid • Belief in Manifest Destiny • Texas Annexation is legal Vote no-not to Declare War • Will expand slavery • Manifest Destiny is unfair to Mexico • Treaty of Velasco is a sham and not valid • Annexation is illegal without Mexico approval.

The War

Important People What did he do in the Mexican American War? 1. James K. Polk President in 1845; wanted to settle Oregon boundary dispute with Britain. wanted to acquire California. wanted to incorporate Texas into union. 2. Zachary Taylor “Old Rough and Tough” On President Polk's orders, he took the Army into the disputed territory between the Nueces and Rio Grande Rivers and built a fort on the north bank of the Rio Grande River. When the Mexican Army tried to capture the fort, Taylor's forces engaged in is a series of engagements that led to the Mexican War. His victories in the war and defeat of Santa Ana made him a national hero. 3. John C. Fremont an American military officer, explorer, the first candidate of the Republican Party and to run on a platform in opposition to slavery.

4. Winfield Scott “Old Fuss and Feathers” Led the U. S. forces' march on Mexico City during the Mexican War. He took the city and ended the war. 5. Santa Anna Ousted as President at beginning of the war; worked out a deal with Polk to end war if helped him get back to Mexico and regain power; Regained power and led Mexican troops but did not uphold to plan with Polk 6. Stephen Kearney American general in war with Mexico, he captured Santa Fe without firing a shot

1845 Texas is annex and becomes 28 state. MX upset and cut ties with the US. Pres. Polk instructs John Slidell to offer up to $25 million for California & $ 5 mill for NM. Insulted Mexicans refuse to see Slidell. Polk starts drafting a declaration for war 1846 Matamores Zachary Taylor and 4000 men are sent to disputed territory, expecting attack. Conflict with Mexican troops results in 16 American casualties. . Polk now presents declaration to Congress In Congress Polk asks for war with Mexico. Northern Whigs fear victory will add more slave states to the Union. Lincoln- Spot Resolution Ulysses Grant- believed war was to expand slavery Proposed Wilmot Proviso (no slavery will be allowed in territory gained from but failed.

1846 Sonoma, California led by Frémont, seized the town of Sonoma and hoisted a flag that featured a grizzly bear, the rebels proudly declared their independence from Mexico and proclaimed the nation of the Republic of California. Kearny arrived from New Mexico and joined forces with Frémont Mexican troops quickly gave way, leaving U. S. forces in control of California. Santa Fe, New Mexico Kearney and his men March from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, across the desert to Santa Fe, New Mexico and crossed 800 miles of barren ground. New Mexico fell to the United States without a shot being fired.

Meanwhile, Polk hatched a bizarre scheme with Santa Anna, who had been living in exile in Cuba. If Polk would help him sneak back to Mexico, Santa Anna promised he would end the war and mediate the border dispute. Polk agreed, but When Santa Anna returned to Mexico, he resumed the presidency, took command of the army and abandoned plan with Polk 1847 Vera Cruz Santa Anna ordered an attack on Taylor’s forces at Buena Vista. Mexican army boasted superior numbers, but its soldiers suffered from exhaustion. Taylor’s more rested troops pushed Santa Anna into Mexico’s interior. an amphibious landing at Veracruz, in which an army of 10, 000 landed on an island off Veracruz in 200 ships and ferried 67 boats in less than 5 hours. Mexico City Scott’s troops then set off for Mexico City, which they captured capital city on September 14, 1847. Covering 260 Miles, ending war.

1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo 1. Mexico agreed to the Rio Grande border for Texas and ceded New Mexico and California to the United States. 2. The United States agreed to pay $15 million for the Mexican cession, which included present-day California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, most of Arizona, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming. The treaty guaranteed 3. Mexicans living in these territories freedom of religion, protection of property, bilingual elections, and open borders. 1853 Gadsden Purchase pay Mexico an additional $10 million for another piece of territory south of the Gila River.

Conclusions • By the end of the 1840 s, the USA had achieved its Manifest Destiny –America had a “continental” empire from the Atlantic to Pacific –Westward expansion stimulated the economy, spread democracy, & increased U. S. nationalism –But as America spread West, sectional issues over slavery grew

The California Gold Rush • The discovery of gold in San Francisco led to a flood of Americans to California in 1849: – “Forty-Niners” hoping to strike it rich came from the East, Latin America, Europe, & Asia ( Chinese largest group) – The California gold rush led to a population boom in the West and exceeded 100, 000. – State drew up state constitution that outlawed slavery and provoked fiery protest in Congress. – Compromise of 1850 would end sectional arguments from 1850 -1854.

Government Policy Explanation Northwest Ordinance requirements for statehood and petitioning to Union. (5, 000 males for assembly, 60, 000 required to become state, and outlawed slavery in new territory). Missouri Compromise MO- slave ME- free 36’ 30 - no slave above this line with the exception of MO ( DIVIDED COUNTRY) Proposed by David Wilmot; no slavery in territory acquired from MX War; Senate rejected. 1. CA enter Union as a free state 2. UT and NM be decided by popular sovereignty 3. US will pay TX $10 mill to give up claims to NM 4. End the sale of slaves in Washington, D. C. 5. Tougher Fugitive Slave act Wilmot Proviso Compromise of 1850