TEXAS INDEPENDENCE Mexico became independent from Spain in

TEXAS INDEPENDENCE • Mexico became independent from Spain in 1822 • Mexico invited Americans to settle in their province of Texas if: 1. 2. 3. • Americans (mostly Southerners) flooded into Texas…many with slaves. They did not follow the rules • Mexican dictator Santa Ana did not like the Texans and decided to put them in their place. • The Mexicans surrounded the rebellious TEXANS at an old church THE ALAMO

The Triumph of TEXAS • TEXANS lose at the Alamo • Santa Ana moves deeper into Texas and wins some small battles • SAN JACINTO: Texans led by Sam Houston attack the Mexican Army – SANTA ANA is captured TEXAS WINS Independence (1836)

The Lone Star of Texas Shines Alone • 8 years after 1836, Mexico considered Texas as in revolt and refused to recognize Texan independence – Mexico threatened war if America protected or annexed Texas • Texas made treaties with France, Holland, and Belgium • British: – Wanted relations to fragment and divert US – Free trade with TX (high American tariffs) • Cotton

Election of 1844 • Key Issue: Expansion (Manifest Destiny) – The Democrats were proexpansion • TX • OR • Pres Tyler signed a resolution in 1845 that invited Texas to become the 28 th state in America

Polk the Purposeful • Polk had four main goals for his presidency 1. A lower a. Walker Tariff of 1846 I. Reduced from 32% (Tariff of 1842) to 25% 2. Restore the independent treasury 1. Whigs dropped in 1841 2. (Basic system lasted until 1913) 3. Settle dispute 1. “reoccupation” of the “whole” of Oregon 2. Sends British offer of 49° to Senate - accepts 4. Annex 1. Tyler signed joint resolution 3 days before leaving office, Congress had been negotiating with President-elect Polk

Manifest Destiny! I will fulfill our purpose and expand our country!* *not a quote I am James K. Polk, “Napoleon of the Stump”, and I approve this message.

Misunderstandings with Mexico • The population of California in 1845 consisted of Spanish -Mexicans and Indians • Polk wanted to buy California – Relations with Mexico were poor due to the annexation of Texas • Border disputes between Texas and Mexico • John Slidell – Rumors of Britain preparing to buy California – Sent to Mexico City in 1845 by Polk to buy California • Up to $25 million • Offer was rejected Slidell not even allowed to make offer

The Republic of Texas

THE LONE STAR REPUBLIC • TEXAS becomes an independent country THE LONE STAR REPUBLIC • TEXANS would like to become part of America, but they are SLAVEOWNERS US does not annex until… • …Polk wins election of 1844 • Became state December 29, 1845

American Blood on American (? ) Soil • On January 13, 1846, Polk ordered 4, 000 men under General Zachary Taylor to the Rio Grande • On May 9, 1846 – Mexican troops attacked American troops • War declared by Congress • Lincoln “spot resolution” – Polk asked Congress to declare war on Mexico

War Asked For and Declared • Article I, Section 8: Enumerated Powers The Congress shall have power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States; To borrow Money on the credit of the United States; To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes; To establish a uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States; To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures; To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current coin of the United States; To establish Post Offices and post Roads; To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries; To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court; To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations; To declare War , grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land Water; To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years; To provide and maintain a Navy; To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land naval Forces; To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions; To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress; To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings; —And To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof. US has formally declared war 5 times:

The Mastering of Mexico • Mexican-American War (1846 -1848) • Generals in Mexican-American War: • Stephen W. Kearny- led 1, 700 troops to Santa Fe • Zachary Taylor- won many victories including a great victory over a large Mexican force at Buena Vista ; future President • Winfield Scott- succeeded in battling his way up to Mexico City by September 1847 – (1 st choice of President Abraham Lincoln to lead the Union army in the Civil War)

The Mexican War (1846 -1848)

Fighting Mexico for Peace • Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo – February 2, 1848 • America gains: – – – above the Rio Grande River • US gave Mexico $15 million – Assumed American claims against Mexico

Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, 1848 The Treaty was basically forced on Mexico! § Mexico gave up claims to Texas above the Rio Grande River § Mexico gave the U. S. California and New Mexico § U. S. gave Mexico $15, 000

The Mexican Cession

Profit and Loss in Mexico • Sectionalism increased – Conflict of slavery between the states • Wilmot Amendment – Never passed the Senate • Provided field experience for officers in the Civil War: – Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant

Results of the Mexican War 1. The 17 -month war cost $100, 000 and 13, 000+ American lives (mostly of disease) 2. Brought in 1 million sq. mi. of land (incl. TX) SLAVE OR FREE? ? 3. America gains a reputation for aggression

Anti-War/Sectionalism

Polk the Purposeful • Polk had four main goals for his presidency 1. A lower tariff. a. Walker Tariff of 1846 I. Reduced from 32% (Tariff of 1842) to 25% 2. Restore the independent treasury 1. Whigs dropped in 1841 2. (Basic system lasted until 1913) 3. Settle Oregon dispute 1. “reoccupation” of the “whole” of Oregon 2. Sends British offer of 49° to Senate accepts 4. Annex Texas 1. Tyler signed joint resolution 3 days before leaving office

Oregon Fever Populates Oregon Competing Claims Spain Russia Great Britain United States 54° 40’ or Fight!

54’ 40 The Oregon Dispute: 1. Five countries claim Oregon Territory 2. Polk says all of it or WAR: 54’ 40º or Fight! 3. Polk settles for 49 th Parallel, our border today!

California Gold Rush, 1849 49 er’s

Gold Rush • The California Gold Rush (1848– 1855) – Began on January 24, 1848 • Gold was found at Sutter's Mill in California. – 300, 000 people to California • From the rest of the US and abroad – ex. San Francisco » 400 people in 1848 » 35, 000 people in 1850 Levi Strauss Opened business in San Francisco in 1853

Trails Westward

The Donner Party • 87 members in 60– 80 wagons • Left MO in May 1846 • 48 survived to reach CA Hastings cutoff will add about a month to the traditional trip

Great Salt Lake Desert "Stumps of trees cut by the Donner Party in Summit Valley, Placer County" Frémont Pass

Territorial Growth to 1853