 When: Where: Texas, California, New Mexico, Mexico Why: The land desired was beautiful and fertile, and provided huge opportunities for expansion. Who: The Americans fought for land they believed should be theirs, since they were strong enough to fight for it. The Mexicans fought to protect the land that already belonged to them, as well as the lifestyle they had created for themselves. OVERVIEW

  Main Cause: Disputed territory over Texas The Mexicans had claimed this region as theirs, but the United States annexed it. The Nueces River: original boundary between Texas and Mexico. The U.S. wanted the Rio Grande River, located farther south, to form the boundary instead. The U.S. also wanted to acquire the Mexican territories of California and New Mexico. MAIN CAUSES

 Major reasons the war was supported: -They could expand into new territory. -Slavery supporters thought they could gain another slave state. -Many believed Americans were racially superior to the -Mexicans and would develop the land more efficiently. REASONS

 General Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana -Mexican General -President of Mexico eleven times from 1833 to He was a disastrous president for Mexico, losing first Texas and then much of the current American west to the United States. Still, he was a charismatic leader and the people of Mexico loved him, begging him to return to power time and again. He was by far the most important figure of his generation in Mexican history.

 President James K. Polk -President during the Mexican-American War. -Pro-annexation -Texas was annexed shortly after his inauguration

 General Zachary Taylor Important Military Leader

The Alamo  -In December 1835, during Texas' war for independence from Mexico, a group of Texan volunteer soldiers occupied the Alamo located near the present-day city of San Antonio. On February 23, 1836, a Mexican force numbering in the thousands and led by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna began a siege of the fort. Though vastly outnumbered, the Alamo's 200 defenders–commanded by James Bowie and William Travis and including the famed frontiersman Davy Crockett–held out courageously for 13 days before the Mexican invaders finally overpowered them. For Texans, the Battle of the Alamo became an enduring symbol of their heroic resistance to oppression and their struggle for independence, which they won later that year.

Annexation of Texas  Many Texans want to join the U.S. after it became independent.  Mexico warned the U.S. to not annex, or take control of, Texas  President Polk offered to buy California  Mexicans were convinced the U.S. intended to take the entire continent.  They refused to sell California. President Polk

 The War Begins  April 25, 1846 Mexican and American forces clashed in disputed territory  Texas boundary dispute  U.S. declared war two days later  American armies moved into California, New Mexico, and Texas to defend territories  California and New Mexico surrendered

 Mexican American War: Invading Mexico  Zachary Taylor led 6,000 U.S. troops into Mexico  Santa Ana led an army of 20,000  Both met near Monterey in 1847  Santa Ana retreated Zachary Taylor at his encampment during the Mexican War

 The Mexican-American War,

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo  Officially ended the Mexican-American War in 1848  Mexican Cession included present-day California, Nevada, and Utah, & parts of Arizona, New Mexico, & Wyoming  Mexico was paid $15 Million  Another $3 million in debt was forgiven  Increased Size of the U.S. by almost 25%

 Mexican Cession

Oregon  Britain agreed to split Oregon territory with the U.S. in 1846 along the 49 th parallel  Oregon becomes a territory in

 Gadsden Purchase of 1853  U.S. paid Mexico $10 million for southern parts of present-day Arizona and New Mexico.  This land was needed for the expansion of the Railroads.

 Slavery One major problem faced the United States after the war with Mexico. Would slavery be allowed in the new territories? This would be a question that would have to be answered. As you may imagine, there would be a great deal of conflict over this issue.

 Manifest Destiny is Fulfilled The belief that the United States, having the best government and culture in the world, had the right and duty to control all lands from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It was also based on racism, that Americans were superior to Indians and Mexicans, which meant they had the right to these lands. g