The U.S. Mexican War Essential Questions: Why does conflict develop? Link for Interactive Map

Vocabulary Reparations (Payment$) – Payment for damages and suffering Envoy (Representative) – A person who is sent by one government to represent it in dealing with another government

Vocabulary Armistice (Treaty) – A temporary end to fighting

The U.S. Mexican War Tensions between the United States and Mexico increased. They disagreed over borders, and the United States demanded that Mexico pay reparations to Texas. Mexico considered the southern boundary of Texas to be the Nueces River while Texas maintained the border was at the Rio Grande.

The U.S. Mexican War President Polk sent John Slidell on a secret mission to negotiate a land deal with Mexico. Mexican leaders refused to meet with Slidell, which Polk viewed as an insult to the United States.

The U.S. Mexican War Polk sent General Zachary Taylor across the Nueces River to the Rio Grande. Mexican leaders viewed this as an invasion and attacked General Taylor’s troops. On May 9, 1846, Polk declared war on Mexico.

The U.S. Mexican War Under orders from President Polk, General Zachary Taylor moved his troops south of the Nueces River. Why was the government of Mexico angered by that action?

Zachary Taylor General Zachary Taylor, a career army officer, enjoyed some early victories in the U.S.-Mexican War, which made him a national hero. How would this image contribute to Taylor's image as a strong leader?

The U.S. Mexican War Texas volunteers joined the army, and more than 5,000 Texans fought in the war. Texas Rangers served as scouts.

In the Battle of Monterrey, American forces drove Mexican troops into the center of the city and then bombarded them. With no hope of reinforcements, Mexican general Pedro de Ampudia surrendered. Former Texas governor James Pinckney Henderson, who led Texas volunteers in the battle, helped negotiate the terms of the surrender.

After his victory at Monterrey, General Zachary Taylor faced a major challenge when Santa Anna marched a much larger army north to challenge him. Rejecting Santa Anna's demand that he surrender, Taylor managed to defeat the larger force. One key to the American victory was the scouting work of Texas Rangers led by Ben McCulloch. General Santa Anna led an attack on U.S. forces in northern Mexico, but lost the Battle of Buena Vista.

By August of 1847, American troops were getting close to Mexico City. On August 20, they won two key battles. In the first, they defeated the army at Contreras, along one of the roads into the city. The Americans then advanced toward another Mexican force at the Rio Churubusco. This force guarded the other main road into the capital.

After the defeat at Contreras, Santa Anna retreated with most of his army back to defend Mexico City. He left General Pedro Anaya to protect the other road to the capital. The Americans rolled over Anaya's forces. In the two American victories at Contreras and Churubusco, Mexican casualties outnumbered American losses by 10 to 1.

By mid-September, Americans troops were positioned to attack the Mexican fortress of Chapultepec Castle. Under heavy assault from three sides, the castle fell to the General Winfield Scott and his men in just a few hours. With this victory, the Americans had won Mexico City and thus the war.

Battle of Buena Vista (February 22-23, 1847) Battle of Monterrey (Sept , 1846) Battle of Resaca de La Palma (May 9, 1846) Battle of Palo Alto (May 8, 1846) Battle of Mexico City (September 1847)

The U.S. Mexican War Taylor won many battles against Mexico. After the Battle of Chapultepec Castle, Mexican troops abandoned Mexico City, and the American forces took over. The United States was the victor in the war. (video) US Mexican WarUS Mexican War video (1:14:00–1:16:43) (**1:17:25-1:19:01)

The U.S. Mexican War The Guadalupe Hidalgo peace treaty of 1848 redefined the borders between the United States and Mexico. The land area known as the Mexican Cession was surrendered to the United States, and Mexico received $15 million in return for the land. Mexico also had to pay Texans $3.25 million in reparations.

Which of the following completes the excerpt? A.Mexico B.Texas C.Spain D.Canada A The answer is:

Which of the following events was a direct effect of the United States War with Mexico in 1846? A.Slavery was banned in the Southern states. B.Mexico ceded lands between Texas and the Pacific Ocean. C.Sam Houston becomes the first president of Texas. D.Texas created a public school system. BThe answer is:

The U.S. Mexican War The Compromise of 1850 allowed California to be admitted as a free state, and the people of the remaining territory would decide the issue of slavery for themselves.

The map shows the borders of Texas … A.Before the Texas Revolution. B.During the Republic Era of Texas. C.At the end of the Spanish Colonial Era. D.After the Compromise of D The answer is:

Quiz D C 1. Mexico considered the southern boundary of Texas to be the _____ River while Texas maintained the border was at the Rio Grande. A. Brazos B. Colorado C. Guadalupe D. Nueces 2. In 1845 the American president sent _____ as a secret envoy to Mexico to negotiate the purchase of the disputed territory between the rivers, as well as the area that is now California, Arizona, and New Mexico. A. James Gadsden B. James K. Polk C. John Slidell D. Zachary Taylor

Quiz D B 3. When the Mexican president refused to meet with his envoy, the American president ordered _____, the commander of U.S. forces in Texas, to cross into the disputed territory to set up camp near the Rio Grande. A. James Pinckney Henderson B. James K. Polk C. John Slidell D. Zachary Taylor 4. Mexican troops attacked the American soldiers camped near the Rio Grande, prompting U.S. President _____ to declare war on Mexico. A. Franklin Pierce B. James K. Polk C. Zachary Taylor D. Martin Van Buren

Quiz A B 5. General Santa Anna led an attack on U.S. forces in northern Mexico, but lost the Battle of _____. A. Buena Vista B. Cerro Gordo C. Chapultepec Castle D. Guadalupe Hidalgo 6. The last major battle in the war, the Battle of _____, was fought at a hilltop fort that was the last stronghold protecting Mexico City. A. Cerro Gordo B. Chapultepec Castle C. Palo Alto D. Resaca de la Palma

Quiz A B 7. With the Treaty of _____, Mexico gave up all claims to Texas and accepted the Rio Grande as the southern boundary of Texas. A. Guadalupe Hidalgo B. Mexico City C. Monterrey D. Washington, D.C. 8. In the treaty, Mexico surrendered the area called _____, which included all of the modern states of California, Nevada, and Utah, and parts of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming. A. the Disputed Territories B. the Mexican Cession C. New Spain D. the Spanish Homelands

Quiz A C 9. Under the terms of the _____, California joined the Union as a free state and voters in the remaining territories gained from Mexico would decide the issue of slavery. A. Compromise of 1850 B. Gadsden Purchase C. Mexican Cession Agreement D. Southwestern Territory Treaty 10. The Compromise of 1850 settled the issue of _____. A. taxes owed to Mexico B. statehood of Texas C. the Texas border with New Mexico D. the U.S.-Mexican War