1. The Mexican-American War (1846- 1848)

2. The Texas Question Should America annex Texas? Westerners and many Southerners say Yes James K. Polk (dark horse candidate) gets the Democratic Party nomination as an expansionist and defeats Henry Clay in the election of 1844. He campaigned on the “reaannexation of Texas and the re-occupation of Oregon” John Tyler annexes Texas right before he leaves office in 1845

3. Texas Border Disputes Texas claimed their border at the Rio Grande while the Mexican government claimed it at the Nueces River We want more than Texas- New Mexico and California? Polk sends John Slidell to buy New Mexico and California for $25 million- Mexico says No Way!!

4. The Disputed Territory

5. Polk Sends Taylor to Disputed Territory General Zachary Taylor is sent with troops to patrol the disputed territory- Why? Mexicans attack Taylor’s troops and 11 Americans are killed in the Thornton Affair

6. Polk Asks Congress to Declare War “Mexico has passed our boundary and shed American blood on American soil” Senate vote is 40-2 and House vote is 174-14. War is declared on May 13 th, 1846 John Quincy Adams and Abraham Lincoln voted No

7. Zachary Taylor at Buena Vista Taylor leads his men to a victory over a much larger Mexican force (20,000 to 5,000) “Double shot your guns and give them hell Bragg” Mexicans facing major problems with Desertion Taylor becomes the “Hero of Buena Vista” as Mexican lose 3,400 and US loses 650 Santa Anna declares victory and retreats the next day

8. Polk Brings Taylor Back and Winfield Scott is in charge Polk doesn’t trust Taylor and thinks he will get to popular and become a political rival

9. Winfield Scott takes Vera Cruz and Mexico City Scott leads first amphibious landing in US military History Robert E. Lee, George Meade, Ulysses S. Grant, and Stonewall Jackson are all part of this campaign Very successful with little Mexican resistance

10. Scott’s Campagn

11. The Penny Press and Media Bias The Media is present and covers the events firshand Media Bias? The war becomes very popular and nationalism is growing

12. What Now? Should we take “All of Mexico”? Stephen Kearney has taken New Mexico Bear Flag Revolution gives us control of California We have all the leverage

13. Treaty of Guadalupe Rio Grande Border of Texas accepted by Mexico US gets New Mexico Territory and California (The Mexican Cession) US pays Mexico $15 million Mexican citizens could return to Mexico or be granted full US citizenship rights

14. The Mexican Cession