Chapter 13, section 3 Standards: 8SS4.e, 8SS5.b, 8SS8.e Conflict with Mexico Chapter 13, section 3 Standards: 8SS4.e, 8SS5.b, 8SS8.e

Texas Wins Independence 1820 Spanish governor gives Moses Austin a land grant to start a small colony in Texas. (Spanish didn’t think enough Tejanos were living in the area.) Moses Austin dies and his son Stephen lead a group of 300 Americans into Texas.

Mexico Declares Independence from Spain 1821

Mexico agreed to honor Moses Austin’s land grant Americans coming into Mexico had to: Become Mexican citizens Become Roman Catholics Abolish slavery Soon thousands of Americans flooded into Texas (30,000) because of the large parcels of land offered and the climate to grow cotton. Most of the settles were protestants and slave-owners. In 1830, Mexico banned further American settlement. Frustrated with uncooperative Texans Americans now far outnumbered Tejanos 6 to 1. Mexico began to levy heavy import taxes on Texas.

Republic of Texas (1836-1845) Texans were wanting more representation in the Mexican Legislature. In 1833, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna became President, then declared himself Dictator of Mexico. Stephen Austin urged Texans to revolt, and in 1836 Texas declared independence and created the Republic of Texas.

The Alamo Santa Anna led 6,000 troops to Texas to put down the revolt. The first battle between the Texans and Mexicans took place at an old mission that was used as a fort. It was called the Alamo.

The Fight for the Alamo There were only 183 Texans guarding the Alamo. The Mexican army had 1,800 men. The Texans held the Alamo for twelve days. On the thirteenth day, Santa Anna ordered his men to storm the fortress. When it was over, all but five Texans were dead. The men not killed in the battle were executed by Santa Anna. Texans were shocked by the slaughter at the Alamo and vowed to fight for their freedom.

Battle at San Jacinto Santa Anna had over 300 more Texans executed at Goliad. Texan general, Sam Houston gathered more troops, 800 in all. It included Tejanos, American settlers, volunteers from the United States, and many free and enslaved African Americans. They met Santa Anna at San Jacinto. Their battle cry was, “Remember the Alamo!” It was over in 18 minutes. More than half the Mexican army was killed during a surprise attack (siesta time). Santa Anna was forced to sign a treaty giving Texas its freedom. With the Battle of San Jacinto,Texas was now an independent country.

Sam Houston became the 1st President of the Republic of Texas Sam Houston became the 1st President of the Republic of Texas. He wanted Texas to be part of the United States but Congress was divided over the slavery issue. Both Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren both refused to annex Texas because of this issue.

Election of 1844 President John Tyler (Whig) was not nominated for President, but instead Henry Clay was, but he avoided the issue of slavery. Democratic candidate James K. Polk wanted to annex both Oregon and Texas, and because of this, he won. Tyler, however, annexed Texas three days before he left office for the good of the people. Polk negotiated a treaty with Britain to divide Oregon at the 49 parallel.

Road to War Mexico never formally accepted Texan independence. Border disputes began about the southern border of Texas. (Rio Grande River versus Nueces River.) Polk knew the Mexican government needed money and offered to buy California and New Mexico. The Mexicans angrily refused.

The Mexican-American War

President Polk then hoped to provoke the Mexicans into war President Polk then hoped to provoke the Mexicans into war. He sent General Zachary Taylor south of the Nueces River. Mexico saw this as an act of war and ambushed an American patrol. Polk used this as an excuse to declare war on Mexico.

Southerners and Westerners supported the war, mainly because they would benefit from gaining land from Mexico. Most Northerners were opposed to the war because of the issue of slavery. Abraham Lincoln and Henry David Thoreau: : “Civil Disobedience” inspired Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.

Rebellion in California

Polk ordered Stephen Kearny to capture Santa Fe then move on to California. John C. Fremont had already started the “Grizzly Bear” revolt and declared independence. He then joined forces with Kearny and removed all Mexican resistance. Mexico had very little military presence in California, so by 1847 all of southern California was under United States control.

Invasion of Mexico General Taylor captured Monterrey, Mexico. He then moved on to Buena Vista where he defeated a much larger Mexican army under the command of Santa Anna. General Winfield Scott captured Vera Cruz and surrounded Mexico City, eventually forcing Santa Anna to retreat. This ended the war.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) Formally ended the Mexican-American War Mexico recognized the annexation of Texas Gave up the Mexican Cession to the U.S. (present day CA, NV, UT, WY, CO, AZ, NM) for $18 million 1853-Gadsden Purchase: $10 million for the rest of AZ and NM

Mexican Cession and Gadsden Purchase