1. Mexican-American War
Honors US History I

2. Executive Decisions
A. President James K. Polk
1. elected president in election
2. platform was “Manifest Destiny”
B. Expansion
1. Texas admitted as 28th state
a. Border with Mexico remains unclear

4. b. Mexico still angry over rebellion
2. also advocates that California revolt against Mexican rule
Diplomatic Attempts
A. John Slidell
: Pres. Polk sends Slidell to MEX with offer to buy California

5. John Slidell
President Polk

6. a. Also discuss Texas problem
b. offer $25 million for area
B. Offer
1. Mexico refuses to even speak with Slidell
a. Still mad about Texas
b. Considers California offer an insult

8. C. Emotional Reaction
1. Slidell’s mission is successful in rousing anti American voices in the American government
2. Mexican officials almost ready to fight
3. US picks a fight

10. Border Dispute
A. Nueces River
1. Mexico claims that the southern border of Texas runs along the Nueces River
B. Rio Grande
1. US claims that the southern border of Texas runs along the Rio Grande River
a miles south of Nueces River

11. Nueces Boundary
Rio Grande Boundary

12. C. Polk Picks a Fight
1. Pres. Polk upset at Slidell’s failure
2. Polk decides to act
3. Polk sends Gen. Zachary Taylor to move his troops along the Rio Grande River
4. US is looking for a reason to fight

13. General Zachary Taylor

14. D. First Shots
1. April 1846: Mexican soldiers cross Rio Grande and attack small group of US cavalry stationed there
2. Mexicans feel that these troops are positioned WITHIN the country of Mexico

15. Nueces Boundary
Rio Grande Boundary
Taylor’s Encampment

16. E. Declaration of War
1. Polk prepares a war message in response to Mexico’s “hostilities”
2. May 13, 1846: the US Congress declares war

17. "War News from Mexico" by Richard Caton Woodville 1848

18. US Strategy
A. Part One
1. Gen. Taylor and troops invade northern Mexico
2. experience no major resistance from Mexicans

19. Gen. Stephen Kearny
Gen. Zachary Taylor
Gen. Winfield Scott

20. B. Part Two
1. Gen. Stephen Kearny leads small force west into New Mexico and then to California
2. barely any shots fired

21. Kearny
Taylor
Scott

22. C. Part Three
1. Gen. Winfield Scott sails south with troops to capture Mexico City, Mexico
a. Capital of Mexico
b. First amphibious landing by US forces
2. faces some opposition
3. captures Mexico City in months of fighting

24. End of War
A. Annexation
1. some members of Congress advocated the US annex the entire country of Mexico while they had the chance
2. Mexico could not really resist attempt

26. B. Diplomacy
1. Pres. Polk sends Nicholas Trist with the same offer as Slidell
a. $25 million for area
2. February 1848: treaty signed between nations

27. Nicholas Trist

28. C. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
1. US acquires lands from Mexico in treaty
a. present-day Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas, and parts of Colorado, Nevada and Utah
b. Nearly 55% of Mexico

29. 3. US assumes Mexican debt to American settlers a. About $3.25 million
2. US pays Mexico $15 million compensation for war-time damages
3. US assumes Mexican debt to American settlers
a. About $3.25 million
4. the southern Texas border will be at the Rio Grande

31. 6. U.S. promises to police its side of the border
5. US guarantees protection of Mexican nationals living within new border
a. About 75,000 people
6. U.S. promises to police its side of the border
7. compulsory arbitration of future disputes
8. US will protect Mexican land grants in US area
a. Repealed by Senate

32. D. Gadsden Purchase
: US purchases tiny strip of land along southern border of present-day Arizona and New Mexico
2. pays $10 million
3. provides RR route all the way west coast through Rocky Mountains
4. completes US expansion