MEXICAN WAR

ANNEXATION To take over a territory and incorporate it into another entity (e.g., country, state) After Texas declared independence after its revolution, U.S. wanted to add it to the Union

DEBATE OVER ANNEXATION Some were worried that TX would become ally of Great Britain if not admitted to the Union Others feared that admission of Texas would increase slave states’ power in Congress Annexation issue dominated Presidential election of 1844

1844 ELECTION Henry Clay of KY vs. James K. Polk of TN Polk was for annexation of TX Clay refused to address the issue of TX in his campaign Polk won and took it as a sign that people wanted annexation His win also increased tension between Mexico and the U.S.

CONFLICT WITH MEXICO Mexico warned that if U.S. admitted TX it would be seen as a declaration of war TX was admitted to the Union on March 3, 1845 Polk wanted Mexico to recognize the Rio Grande River as its Northern border Polk sent John Slidell, a Louisiana lawyer to negotiate with Mexico Tried to persuade Mexico to recognize Rio Grande as border and sell NM and CA to the U.S.

MEXICAN WAR On May 13, 1846 Congress declared war on Mexico Americans were critical of the war, especially Lincoln, who was then a Congressman Nicknamed the war “Mr. Polk’s War” because many believed there was no justification for it and that he wanted to acquire more slave territory

WAR CONT… Bear Flag Revolt Siege of Mexico City Captain John Fremont and settlers in California revolted against Mexico and declared it an independent republic Siege of Mexico City General Winfield Scott led his troops in the final campaign of the war in Mexico City Lasted from March 1847-September 14, 1847, when the Mexicans surrendered

TREATY OF GUADALUPE HIDALGO Treaty that ended the war in February 1848 Mexico gave up all claims to Texas Mexican Cession=present-day states of California, Nevada, Utah U.S. agreed to: pay Mexico $15 million, pay for the damages against Mexico, and grant citizenship to Mexicans living in Mexican Cession territory Gadsden Purchase=U.S. acquirement of Arizona and New Mexico

Memorials

CREATING A MEXICAN WAR MEMORIAL 1. What is the goal of your memorial? Do you wish to commemorate the war? Or do you want to condemn it? 2. Who is the target audience of your memorial? Are you appealing to the Mexicans who fought; Americans who fought; politicians involved? 3. Who would your memorial honor? 4. What words, if any, would be on your memorial? 5. In what city or state would your memorial live? 6. What would be the set up for your memorial? A plaque, statue, park, building, etc. If you want to be creative you could sketch it Additional group ideas about the memorial: