Cause and Effect The Mexican-American War Objective : Determining the causes of the Mexican American War

Texas’ Nickname?

Lone Star State

Lone Star State

Remember from last time… The Spanish land called Tejas was rich and desirable, as it had forests, rich soil, and great grassy plains. Tejanos are people of Spanish heritage who consider Texas their home. The Spanish government wanted to attract more settlers to move to Texas to help defend against Native Americans and Americans who illegally sneaked into Texas.

Mexican Independence = Changes in Texas Stephen Austin created a colony in Texas that attracted 297 families. Tensions between American settlers and Tejanos increased because the Americans resented following new Mexican laws. To resolve tensions, the Mexican government: stopped American immigration levied taxes sent troops to Texas

Texans Revolt Against Mexico In 1833, Austin set off for Mexico City with a petition listing all the reforms supported by both Americans and Tejanos. In Mexico City, the Mexican president, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna learned of a letter Austin had written that threatened a rebellion if Santa Anna didn’t approve of his petition. The Battle of Alamo was a result of tensions between the Texans and Mexicans. In 1836, the Texans defended a church called the Alamo against the Mexican army; all but five Texans were killed.

Lone Star State – Victory at San Jacinto On April 21st, 1836, the Texans advanced on the Mexican army “with the stillness of death”. In just 18 minutes, the Texans killed more than half of the Mexican army. Santa Anna was forced to sign a treaty giving Texas its freedom. With the Battle of San Jacinto, Texas was now independent.

Lone Star State – Victory at San Jacinto On April 21st, 1836, the Texans advanced on the Mexican army “with the stillness of death”. In just 18 minutes, the Texans killed more than half of the Mexican army. Santa Anna was forced to sign a treaty giving Texas its freedom. With the Battle of San Jacinto, Texas was now independent.

Lone Star Republic In September 1836, Texans raised a flag with a single star. Sam Houston was elected president of the Lone Star Republic. The Texas government asked Congress to annex Texas, but Congress vetoed the annexation because it worried about the slavery issue and about another war with Mexico.

U.S.-Mexico Disputes The Annexation of Texas by the U.S. angered the Mexican Government. Mexico never acknowledged Texas as independent and felt the U.S. had no right to take its territory. Mexico also did not acknowledge the Treaty of Velasco which set the southern border of Texas as the Rio Grande.

The loss of Texas will inevitably result in the loss of New Mexico and the Californias. Little by little our territory will be absorbed until only an insignificant part is left to us.... Our national existence... will end like those weak meteors that, from time to time, shine fitfully in the firmament (sky) and disappear. -José Maria Tornel y Mendivil

The U. S. and Texas considered the Rio Grande as the Southern border The U.S. and Texas considered the Rio Grande as the Southern border. For Mexico it was the Nueces Area in Dispute Nueces River 8.6 D  The students will explain the major issues and events of the Mexican War and their impact on the United States Rio Grande River

Why would the Mexican government not accept the treaty of Velasco? Santa Anna only signed the treaty of Velasco because his life was in danger.

Manifest Destiny Another issue with Mexico was Manifest Destiny. The land that the United States desired out west (California especially) was all controlled by Mexico.

The U.S. Perspective Most Americans sympathized with Texas during the Texas revolution and republic days because most Texans were former Americans. As a result of the brutal fighting (at the Alamo, Massacre at Goliad, and other times) the American public developed negative stereotypes against the Mexican people and government Stereotype: A belief that is incorrectly attributed to an entire group of people

Effort to ease the tensions After Texas Annexation, Mexico threatened war. U.S. President James K. Polk sent John Slidell to Mexico to work for better relations between the two countries. John Slidell

Slidell’s Mission 1) Get Mexican recognition of the Rio Grande as the border between Mexico and the United States 2) To forgive about $4.5 million owed to U.S. citizens by Mexico from the Mexican War of Independence 3) To discuss the purchase of the New Mexico and California The Mexican government refused to talk with Slidell which angered the U.S.

A company of U.S. Calvary commanded by Captain Seth Thornton got into a skirmish with Mexican forces near the Rio Grande. Thornton was ordered to scout an area about twenty miles northwest of what later became Brownsville, Texas. In April 1846, the Calvary, investigated an abandoned hacienda (Ranch). Some two thousand Mexican soldiers were encamped in and around the hacienda, and a firefight occurred. Both sides fought ferociously, but the greatly outnumbered U.S. force was forced to surrender after several hours of skirmishing. The Thornton Affair Thornton was outnumbered By about 1900 men.

Presidents Polk’s Response President Polk asked for a declaration of war before a joint session of the United States Congress, summing up the need for war by famously stating: "American blood has been shed on American soil". Congress declared war on Mexico, despite protests by the Mexican government that Thornton had crossed the border into Mexican Texas — a border that Mexico claimed as the Nueces River. the ensuing Mexican-American War was waged from 1846-1848 and witnessed the loss of many thousands of lives and nearly half of the territory of Mexico.

US Problems with Mexico 1) Americans had a negative view of Mexico because of the Texas Revolution. 2) Mexico owed the U.S. money for the Mexican Revolution against Spain Mexican Problems with US. Mexico felt that Texas was being stolen from them. 2) Mexico didn’t believe in Manifest Destiny and didn’t want to give away their land.

Vote no-not to Declare War Will expand slavery Vote Yes-Declare War Treaty of Velasco is valid Belief in Manifest Destiny Texas Annexation is legal Vote no-not to Declare War Will expand slavery Manifest Destiny is unfair to Mexico Treaty of Velasco is a sham and not valid Annexation is illegal without Mexico approval.

POLK’s Speech Video