8X 10-13-2016 Thursday Review Mexican American War and CA Gold Rush Objective: Describe American expansion through the Mexican American War and the CA Gold Rush. Agenda: Prayer Do Now: Page 363 #3A and 3B Go over page 363 and 11.3 and 11.4 packets, key terms and people Review notes and verbal quiz Homework: Study for Ch 11.3 and 11.4 quiz tomorrow

Why did the United States declare war on Mexico. (Chapter 11 Why did the United States declare war on Mexico? (Chapter 11.3 page 357) The U.S. declared war on Mexico because of their border dispute. Mexico believed that their border with the United States was the Nueces River. The United States claimed that it was further south, the Rio Grande River. President Polk sent troops to the Rio Grande. Mexico considered this as part of their territory so they attacked the American troops. Polk then asked Congress to declare war on Mexico. There were already tensions between the U.S. because of Texas and California independence.

Chapter 11.3 The Mexican American War Part I: Causes By the 1840s, the U.S. had a booming population and economy. Needed more room for farms, ranches, businesses, and families. Americans began to believe in manifest destiny – idea that God had destined Americans to conquer the west and spread Christianity and American culture. Mexico owned much of the land to the west of the U.S. U.S. western expansion will cause land disputes with Mexico. James K. Polk (manifest destiny president) becomes president of the U.S. and wants to annex Texas, which Mexico thinks belongs to Mexico. IN December 1845, Texas officially becomes part of the United States. Though California still belonged to Mexico, they did not feel connected to the Mexican government because it was so far away. Californios were very friendly and welcoming. Anglos felt welcomed and settled in California and started calling for CA independence from Mexico, causing tension. Mexico thinks that Mexico goes up to the Nueces River. U.S. thinks Mexico only goes up to the Rio Grande River. Polk sends Zachary Taylor to the Rio Grande with an army and he also tries to buy the land. Mexico refuses to sell and attacks Taylor’s army which they consider to be in Mexican land. War begins!

Part II: Main events/battles/people The U.S. had better weapons, more money, and eventually an army of more than 200,000 volunteers. Was far superior than the Mexican army. General Taylor – won battles south of Nueces. Crossed the Rio Grande and secured it as the border. General Stephen Kearny – took Santa Fe, New Mexico without a fight and claimed all of NM. Bear Flag Revolt (CA) –June 1846, American settlers in CA declare it as an independent nation. With John Fremont. Vallejo and other prominent Californios were taken prisoner by the rebels. July 1846 U.S. navy takes CA. Some Californios resist but are defeated in early 1847. Taylor gets reinforcements and moves into Mexico from the Rio Grande. Santa Anna comes back into power in Mexico September 1846. Clash and defeat with Taylor at Buena Vista in February 1847. General Winfield Scott – uses (water) trails of Spanish Conquistadors. Attacks and takes Mexico’s strongest fort (Veracruz) to get to Mexico City. After a month long battle, General Scott takes Mexico City on September 14, 1847.