{ Mexican-American War

 After Mexico gained their independence, Americans flooded into Texas.  Many were southern protestant who owned slaves.  Mexico was Catholic and abolished slavery. This upset the Mexican govt.  In 1830, Mexico banned further American settlements.

 As Mexico tried to enforce their laws, tensions grew.  American settlers and Tejanos wanted more representation in a democratic govt.  But in 1833, Santa Anna became the Mexican President. He overturned their constitution and became a dictator.

 S. Austin encouraged Texans to revolt.  In 1836, Texas declared independence.  Santa Anna responded with force. They surrounded the Alamo and laid siege to it for 12 days.  Eventually all defenders of the mission were killed.

 The following year, Sam Houston led an army in a surprise attack shouting “Remember the Alamo”.  Santa Anna was captured and forced to sign a treaty recognizing Texan independence.

 Election of Polk promised to annex Texas and Oregon.  Polk negotiated with Britain to draw the border for Oregon at 49°N.  Annexing Texas caused more tension with Mexico.

 Polk offered to buy California, New Mexico and other land in southwest and set the border of Texas at the Rio Grande River.  Mexico refused. Polk sent Zachary Taylor into the disputed land to Provoke confrontation.

 Mexico attacked Taylor’s group.  Polk claimed Mexico had killed Americans on American soil.  Mexico and Northern Americans said that Polk was to blame.  American troops were able to capture multiple cities in Mexican territory.  Once they captured the capital city of Mexico City, the U.S. won the war.

 After the war, the U.S. negotiated the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848 that formally ended the Mexican- American War.  Mexico ceded a large majority of the southwest.  In 1853, the U.S. paid Mexico $10 million for the Gadsden purchase completing Manifest Destiny.