The Mexican - American War Origins War Mexican Cession California

Causes John Slidell is dispatched to Mexico to peacefully acquire CA and NM He is denied access to Mexican officials Disputed Zone: Rio Grande v. Nueces River Polk dispatches U.S. troops led by General Zachary Taylor to the Disputed Zone Polk: “American blood has been shed on American soil”

General Zach Taylor

General Winfield Scott

Mexico defeated at Veracruz (3/1847) Kearney’s March (1846) 800 miles, KA-NM Takes New Mexico without a shot Mexico defeated at Veracruz (3/1847) Amphibious landing General Scott marches to Mexico City (9/1847) Wilmot Proviso PA Congressman proposes banning slavery in territories acquired from Mexico Passes the House but Calhoun kills it in the Senate “Property rights”

Kearney’s March

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) Settled the boundary between Mexico and Texas at the Rio Grande Gave the U.S. territory known as Mexican Cession in exchange for $15 million Modern day: CA, NV, NM, UT, AZ*, CO*, WY* U.S. guarantees it will respect the property rights of Mexican inhabitants (it won’t) The Gadsden Purchase (1853) $10 million South of the Gila River (AZ, NM) Transcontinental railroad

California James Marshall discovers gold at Sutter’s Mill (1848) John C. Fremont leads rebel forces in declaring California “The Republic of California” Fremont will meet Kearney and together with other U.S. forces they are able to control CA Gold Rush James Marshall discovers gold at Sutter’s Mill (1848) Forty-niners rush to California Population boom – California is ready for statehood California’s Constitution outlawed slavery…

California

Election of 1848