1. Mexican-American War

2. New President Democrat James K. Polk is elected in 1844.
Focused on Oregon and Texas

3. Oregon Shared with Britain Some wanted to fight for entire area
1846- Polk negotiated a treaty for land south of the 49th parallel
Oregon = U.S. territory Feb. 1848

4. Texas
Texas was annexed-1845
Mexico was angry!!

5. Border Dispute Texas’s southern border? Mexico said Nueces River
Texas & U.S. said Rio Grande River

6. Border Dispute John Slidell 30 Million Hey Mexico… wanna sell??
Expulsion of U.S. settlers from California
US wanted to buy New Mexico and California for $30 million.
November 1845: Mexico refuses to meet with U.S. diplomat John Slidell
We’re not
talking to you!
John Slidell

7. General Zachary Taylor
Border Dispute
President James K. Polk
General Zachary Taylor

8. Border Dispute
President Polk ordered General Zachary Taylor and thousands of U.S. troops into Texas
Late March 1846: arrives along Rio Grande and discovers Mexican troops encamped across river
Early April 1846: Mexican general orders Taylor to return east of the Nueces

9. Border Dispute
But now, after reiterated menaces, Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon the American soil. She has proclaimed that hostilities have commenced, and that the two nations are now at war.
As war exists, and, notwithstanding all our efforts to avoid it, exists by the act of Mexico herself, we are called upon by every consideration of duty and patriotism to vindicate with decision the honor, the rights, and the interests of our country
In further vindication of our rights and defense of our territory, I invoke the prompt action of Congress to recognize the existence of the war, and to place at the disposition of the Executive the means of prosecuting the war with vigor, and thus hastening the restoration of peace
~ President Polk’s Letter to Congress

10. War!!
WAR BEGAN IN 1846
U.S. Wins!!
Other U.S. forces captured New Mexico & California
General Scott: captured Mexico City
The war ended when Mexico City was captured by U.S. troops.
11,000 died from diseases such as measles, smallpox, typhoid, diarrhea, mumps, and the common cold. More than 11,000 died of disease, while 1,700 were killed in actual combat! (
$98 million spent

11. Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
February 2nd, 1848
Nicholas Trist

12. Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo#1
Mexico recognized annexation of Texas

13. Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo#2
Southern border of Texas established at the Rio Grande

14. Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo#3
U.S. paid Mexico $15 million
Mexican Cession (CA, NV, UT, parts of AZ, NM, CO, & WY)
for

15. James Gadsden wanted a route for a transcontinental railroad
Gadsden Purchase
1853
James Gadsden wanted a route for a transcontinental railroad
U.S. paid Mexico $10,000,000 for bottom of AZ & NM

16. United States 1853