The Mexican American War

Causes Manifest Destiny – Desire of the U.S. to expand across the North American continent to the Pacific Ocean. U.S. offered to purchase California from Mexico for $30 million. Mexico refused.

Causes Annexation of Texas to the U.S. Mexico believed that the U.S. had stolen Texas from them. Boundary dispute – The Rio Grande or the Nueces River?

The Immediate Cause “American blood has been shed on American soil.” Gen. Zachary Taylor moved his troops into the disputed area at Palo Alto in South Texas. Mexican troops moved to the same area. Small skirmish - a few deaths on each side.                                                                                                                   Gen. Zachary Taylor

Declaration of War President Polk presented his war message to Congress. (“American Blood has been shed on American soil.”) Congress voted to declare war on Mexico. President James K. Polk

Opposition to the War New Englanders claimed the war was an attempt to extend slavery. Congressman Abraham Lincoln of Illinois said that American blood had been shed on a Mexican cornfield. Abraham Lincoln

Treaty of Guadalupe - Hidalgo Ended the Mexican – American War. Northern portions of Mexico were annexed to the U.S. U.S. agreed to pay Mexico $ 15 million for the seized territory. Rio Grande established as the border between Texas and Mexico.

The Mexican Cession

Which states eventually came from the Mexican Cession?

Other Results The U.S. gained a large amount of land from Mexico in the Mexican Cession. Bad relations between the U.S. and Mexico for almost 100 years. Not really a result but something to think about – The U.S. gained California in 1848 at the end of the war. One year later gold was discovered in California. Think about how all that gold helped the U.S. and what would have happened if the war never happened and Mexico had gained all that land.