The War with Mexico Mr Calella American Studies

The War with Mexico Mr. Calella American Studies I (Honors) Chapter 12

Main Idea • Tensions over the U. S. annexation of Texas led to war with Mexico, resulting in huge territorial gains for the United States. • BIG IDEAS-Expansion, Settler

Events Leading to War • American settlers in Texas • “Texas Revolution” leads to the formation of the Republic of Texas • Election of 1844 – Whigs nominate Henry Clay – Democrats nominate James K. Polk • “Dark Horse” a. k. a. “Young Hickory”

Events (continued) • Polk edges out Clay 1844 – Clay does not want TX annexation to get North support; Polk promises Manifest Destiny • Before Tyler leaves, Congress annexes Texas by joint resolution (Why easier than ratify treaty? ) – Polk then focuses on Oregon, “Fifty-Four Forty or Fight”; dangerous? – Things work out with Britain luckily • Texas territory annexed into the United States, and Texas becomes the 28 th state in 1845

Causes of the War • Mexico angry that U. S. annexed Texas (Why important? ) • Mexico owed U. S. money – $3 M debt • Polk as the “Dark Horse” and embodiment of “Manifest Destiny” • Border dispute (Rio Grande or Nueces)-WHY IMPORTANT?

Cause of the War (continued) • Negotiations to buy CA and NM for $25 M-fail because Mexico refuses • Polk sends Gen. Zachary Taylor (“Old Rough and Ready”) to Rio Grande to blockade with 4 K troops • Skirmish with Mexican troops leaves 9 U. S. soldiers dead • Polk drums up support-agenda is Manifest Destiny!

Sectional Attitudes Toward the War • SOUTH-Support, why? • NORTH- Against, why? (Thoreau’s Civil Disobedience, Abe Lincoln, William Lloyd Garrison) • How do you feel? Argue both sides! Iraq similar?

The War • Polk gets Congress to declare war • US army small, but many volunteers (many are immigrants, why? ) • 1 st war US fought to gain land photographed • U. S. take New Mexico (support of rich landowners) and California with little effort • Polk negotiates compromise with England for Oregon Territory

The War (continued) • U. S. had strong, young leadership (Ulysses Grant & Robert E. Lee) • Also seasoned vets (Taylor and Winfield Scott- “Old Fuss and Feathers”) – 2 Whigs; Should be important to Polk? – US wins battle after battle in N. Mexico – Feb 1847 US takes all territory north of Mexico City (capital) – Why did the fighting get more intense as the Americans moved farer away from the Mexican frontier and closer to the Mexican Capital?

Spoils of War • Scott’s amphibious landing near Veracruz and eventual capture of Mexico City ends War(WHY? ) – Polk only 1 term and Taylor wins in 1848 • Death toll: Mexico, 25, 000 & U. S. , 13, 000 (11, 000 Yellow Fever) • U. S. -Manifest Destiny achieved by enlarging territory by 1/3 • Treaty of Guadalupo Hidalgo – Rio Grande forms boundary – NM & Upper California ceded-$15 M – Maybe Mexico should have taken $25 M

Spoils (continued) • Big Payoff-Gold discovered in CA – Jan 1848; Forty-Niners – Ethically and racially diversity – Growth of San Francisco – CA becomes state in 1850 b/c pop. • Gadsden Purchase, 1853 -See Map – For railroad building purposes • Election of 1848 -Taylor wins – Dies in first year of first term under suspicious circumstances