Chapter 12 Section 3 War With Mexico

The New Mexico Territory A Vast Region –When Mexico became independent in 1821, it inherited the New Mexico province from Spain –It included all of present-day NM, AZ, NV, and UT, as well as parts of CO and WY –Spain had wanted to keep Americans away, but the Mexican government welcomed American traders in the hopes of boosting the economy

The Santa Fe Trail The trail was named after the route of an American trader named William Becknell, who traveled from independence, MO, to Santa Fe, NM As trade increased and Americans settled in the region, many Americans saw NM as territory worth acquiring

California’s Spanish Culture Europeans Settle California –The first Europeans to settle in CA were Spanish explorers and missionaries –The missions were a key part of Spain’s plan to colonize. They were used to convert the Native Americans to Christianity –One American who visited CA felt that the Native Americans were treated like slaves

California After 1821 After Mexico’s independence, CA became a Mexican state. In 1833 Mexico abolished the missions. Some of the lands were purchased by Mexican settlers who built large ranches that were worked by Native Americans

Manifest Destiny and California By 1845 Americans in CA began to talk about adding it to the U.S. President Polk twice offered to buy NM and CA, but Mexico refused.

War With Mexico Polk is Determined –Relations between the U.S. and Mexico were strained by the annexation of TX and a dispute involving the Texas-Mexico border. –Polk sent an agent to Mexico to offer $30 million for CA and NM in return for Mexico’s acceptance of the Rio Grande River as the southern border of TX. Mexico refused to discuss the offer.

Conflict Begins In 1846 Polk ordered General Zachary Taylor to march his soldiers across the disputed borderland Mexican soldiers attacked Taylor’s soldiers. When Polk received news of the attack, he blamed Mexico for the hostilities and convinced Congress to declare war.

American Attitudes Toward War Northerners and Whigs opposed the war. Southerners and Democrats supported the war. A main issue was the expansion of slavery into the new territories

Polk’s War Plan The plan had three parts; to drive the Mexican forces out of the disputed border area, to take control of NM and CA, and to take control of Mexico City Within a few months, General Zachary Taylor secured the border, and General Stephen Kearny captured Santa Fe, NM, and headed west to CA.

California and the Bear Flag Republic A small group of Americans seized the town of Sonoma, CA, and proclaimed the territory the Republic of California John Fremont, an army officer who was already on a military expedition in CA, declared that he would conquer CA Californios ( Mexicans living in CA) were outraged

Naval Intervention The U.S. navy, under John Sloat, captured he port cities of Monterrey and San Francisco and declared CA annexed to the U.S. By 1847 CA was fully controlled by the U.S.

The Capture of Mexico City Polk sent General Winfield Scott to capture the city By the end of 1847, Scott had captured the city, and the Mexicans government decided to surrender

The Peace Treaty In 1848, the U.S. and Mexico ended the war with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo In the treaty, Mexico ceded (gave) NM and CA to the U.S., the U.S. paid Mexico $15 million, and the Rio Grande River became the official southern border of TX In 1853 the U.S. paid Mexico $10 million for the Gadsden Purchase, a strip of land along the southern edge of present-day AZ and NM. With the purchase, the U.S. reached its present size