War with Mexico If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. When that fails just start a huge war.

Texas becomes a major issue in the 1844 election. James K. Polk wanted to finally achieve “Manifest Destiny” (a term coined by John O’ Sullivan) and Texas as well as the Oregon Territory were key. December 29, 1845 Texas officially becomes a state. Texas becoming a state bothered Mexico because they felt that Texas was a “stolen province”. Remember, Mexico has not recognized that Texas is a free and independent nation.

Tensions Mount Mexico refused to sell the US California and New Mexico, so President Polk plotted to pull Mexico into a war to gain the land. The idea was that Mexico should act first militarily and that way we would be defending ourselves.

Tensions Mount The border between Mexico and Texas was set at the Nueces River according to Mexico and the Rio Grande River 150 miles south according to the US.

Tensions Mount Polk tried diplomacy by sending John Slidell to Mexico authorizing a deal of $30 million for both California and New Mexico and accepting the Rio Grande as the official border between the two nations. Mexico refused and stated that it would reinstate Mexico’s claim to Texas.

Tensions Mount Polk sent Gen Zachary Taylor into the disputed land north of the Rio Grande. Taylor built a small fort. The move was seen as a hostile act according to Mexico (the US invaded Mexico). On April 24, 1846 Mexican troops attacked a small force of Taylor’s soldiers killing 11 (they were provoked by Taylor’s men!).

Tensions Mount Taylor sent word to Polk: “Hostilities may now be considered as commenced,” in other words, you got yourself the war you wanted. Polk asks Congress for a declaration of war: “Mexico has shed American blood on American soil”. On May 13, 1846 Congress declared war on Mexico.

For Wednesday March 21st: DA 8.12 – What was Polk’s strategy for winning the war with Mexico? “War with Mexico” notes SSR HW – Read your textbook (pages 316-325)

Dissention in the Ranks The American people were divided: Democrats (Polk’s party) supported the war. Whigs opposed it calling Polk’s actions aggressive and unjust. Northerners accused Democrats of waging the war to spread slavery. Southerners favored the war thinking that any territory won would be organized into slave states. Congressman Abe Lincoln challenged Polk as to the exact spot of the attack.

Polk’s Plan American troops would drive Mexican forces out of the disputed border region in Texas and secure the area. The US would seize New Mexico and California. American forces would take Mexico City.

He’s Baaaaack! Taylor and his troops continued to march south into Mexico. In February 1847 Taylor and his troops met none other than Santa Anna (once again in charge of the Mexican government) at Buena Vista. Santa Anna sent a note to the Americans demanding their surrender. “General Taylor never surrenders!” The Mexican troops far outnumbered the Americans forces, but the Americans were better armed, trained and led.

He’s Back! After a fierce two day battle, Santa Anna retreated under the cover of darkness. Taylor success made him popular among the troops and a war hero back at home. Soldiers called him “Old Rough and Ready”. Polk becomes nervous of Taylor’s popularity – could the White House be in his future? Polk replaces Taylor with Gen. Winfield Scott aka “Old Fuss and Feathers.”

The Fall of New Mexico In the summer of 1846, Gen. Stephen Watts Kearny led approximately 1,500 cavalry soldiers along the Santa Fe Trail from Missouri to New Mexico. The Mexican governor fled. On August 18, 1846 Kearny captured New Mexico’s capital Santa Fe without firing a single shot. The road to California was now wide open.

The Bear Flag Republic On June 14, 1846, a small group of Americans seized the town of Sonoma capturing the Mexican general Vallejos and declared CA a free and independent country. Kearny’s army along with naval commander Robert Stockton planned on taking San Diego and move northward capturing Los Angeles and San Gabriel.

The Bear Flag Republic Commodore John Drake Sloat seized Monterey, the capital of California, and San Francisco. In July of 1846 California is annexed by the US. Some skirmishes would ensue before California would be fully controlled by the US in January 1847.

The Capture of Mexico City Gen. Winfield Scott landed on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico in March 1847 near the port of Veracruz. After a 3 week siege Veracruz fell. Scott set his sights on Mexico City 300 miles away. Battling not only the Mexican army but bands of armed peasants, the US troops reach Mexico City at the end of August 1847.

For Thursday March 22nd: DA 8.13 – Why was the acquisition of California so important? Pass back papers “War with Mexico” notes “California” Notes

The Capture of Mexico City A few divisions of the Mexican army and a group of boys from the Mexican Military College engaged the US troops in defense of the capital. By mid-September Mexico City falls and the Mexican government surrenders.

The Capture of Mexico City The US lost 1,721 men to battle and 11,000 to disease. Mexico lost far more. The war cost the US nearly $100 million. Mexico lost half their territory.

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo The peace treaty that ended the war was signed in February 1848. Mexico had to: Give up all claims to Texas. Agree that the border between Texas and Mexico was the Rio Grande River. Cede California and New Mexico (Mexican Cession) in return for $15 million. In 1852 the US would pay Mexico an additional $10 million for a small strip of land in AZ and NM (Gadsden Purchase)

If you see Mr. Stokes……ask him what the name of the peace treaty was that ended the war with Mexico.

Lasting Effects of the War Mexico was humiliated in its defeat. White culture was seen as superior to that of the Mexican or Spanish culture. The Californios became US citizens but their rights were often denied or just ignored.