Chapter 9.3-.4 Notes Goal 2

Texas Since 1836, Texas was standing alone as its own country (Lone Star Republic), Mexico refuses to recognize Texas as anything but a state in revolt Mexico threatens war with US if US tries to annex Texas Texas wants to join US as a slave state, makes North unhappy Texas needs military defense against Mexico so works to make international friends, does make some with GB, FR, Belgium, and Holland This worries US who does not want these nations within our “borders” also challenges Monroe Doctrine

More Texas Issue of annexing Texas becomes key issue in campaign of 1844 Proexpansion Democrats nominate James K. Polk and Whigs nominate Henry Clay Polk wins Tyler (who is a lameduck president at this point) believes this is a sign that the American people want Texas as a state Did not think that adding Texas as a state would happen in Congress through a regular Treaty process (have to do it this way because TX is an independent nation) Tyler arranges for annexation by joint resolution which would only require a simple majority okay in Congress rather than 2/3rds approval TX becomes 28th state in 1845 Mexico mad but no war yet…

Misunderstands with Mexico Idea of Manifest Destiny pushes US to want Oregon and CA Pop of CA in 1845 was mixed, Spanish Mexicans, Native Americans, some Americans Polk wants to buy CA from Mexico but a few issues exist US had about $3 million in damages claims against Mexico for the Mexico/Texas war Mexico still upset over US annexing Texas Polk really worried once word spreads that GB is trying to buy CA (violates MD)

California Polk sends John Slidell to Mexico City, 1845 Offers $25 million for California He is turned away/FAIL Jan 13, 1846 Polk sends 4,000 men led by Gen. Zachary Taylor to march toward Mexican territory Nothing happens….Polk expected Mexico to respond May 9, 1846 Polk asks Congress to declare war on Mexico Unpaid claims (damages) Slidell’s rejection

War with Mexico However, news arrives on May 9 that on April 25, 1846 Mexican troops crossed the Rio Grande (border) and attacked Taylor’s troops killing 16 Americans Polk says this is also cause for war since the attack was unprovoked Congress votes for War Americans excited!! “Mexico or Death!”

Mexican War Polk really just wants CA not war Santa Anna (dethroned Mexican dictator, at this time in Cuba) says that if the US helps him into Mexico he would double cross his country and help the US Polk allows Santa Anna back to Mexico Bad move! Santa Anna rallies the Mexican troops against the US

Phases of the War War occurs in 3 phases Phase 1: Get CA Gen Stephen Kearny and about 1700 troops marched from Ft. Leavenworth to Santa Fe, then head west to San Diego Is joined in CA by Capt. John C Fremont and his men who take CA and say the area is now known as the “Bear Flag Republic”, independent nation

Phase II Fighting in Texas: Gen Zachary Taylor scores several victories, notably defeats Santa Anna at Buena Vista (Feb 22-23, 1847) He is now a big time war hero!

Phase III Conquest of Mexico City: Gen Winfield Scott (Old Fuss and Feathers) was sent to Mexico City to deliver the final blow to Mexico Retraces Cortez’s path from Vera Cruz to Mexico City Captures Mexico City, Sept 1847

End of the War Polk anxious to end war now that he has what he wants Sends Chief Clerk of the State Dept, Nicholas Trist to get peace deal Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo Ends War (Feb 2, 1848) US got land “Mexican Cession”, CA and future states of NV, AZ, NM, CO, UT US pays Mexico $15 for land and assumes damages claims previously upset about

What about Slavery? Question comes up with what to do with slavery in the new lands Wilmot Proviso: suggest all Mexican Cession lands be closed to slavery Proviso fails in Senate

Assignment: Make a TimeLine for the Annexation of Mexico and the Mexican War using the dates provided. More than 1 event could occur on specific date. Information can be found in Chapter 9 Sections 3 and 4 Dates:

Dates: June 1846 Sept 1846 2/2/1848 May 29, 1848 1853 1821 (Mexico) 1823/1824 (land) 1824 (slavery) 1834 1835 March 1836 Sept 1836 1844 12/29/1845 1846 June 1846 Sept 1846 2/2/1848 May 29, 1848 1853