1. The Mexican - American War
Origins
War
Mexican Cession
California

3. Causes
John Slidell is dispatched to Mexico to peacefully acquire CA and NM
He is denied access to Mexican officials
Disputed Zone: Rio Grande v. Nueces River
Polk dispatches U.S. troops led by General Zachary Taylor to the Disputed Zone
Polk: “American blood has been shed on American soil”

5. General Zach Taylor

6. General Winfield Scott

7. Mexico defeated at Veracruz (3/1847)
Kearney’s March (1846)
800 miles, KA-NM
Takes New Mexico without a shot
Mexico defeated at Veracruz (3/1847)
Amphibious landing
General Scott marches to Mexico City (9/1847)
Wilmot Proviso
PA Congressman proposes banning slavery in territories acquired from Mexico
Passes the House but Calhoun kills it in the Senate
“Property rights”

8. Kearney’s March

9. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)
Settled the boundary between Mexico and Texas at the Rio Grande
Gave the U.S. territory known as Mexican Cession in exchange for $15 million
Modern day: CA, NV, NM, UT, AZ*, CO*, WY*
U.S. guarantees it will respect the property rights of Mexican inhabitants (it won’t)
The Gadsden Purchase (1853)
$10 million
South of the Gila River (AZ, NM)
Transcontinental railroad

11. California James Marshall discovers gold at Sutter’s Mill (1848)
John C. Fremont leads rebel forces in declaring California “The Republic of California”
Fremont will meet Kearney and together with other U.S. forces they are able to control CA
Gold Rush
James Marshall discovers gold at Sutter’s Mill (1848)
Forty-niners rush to California
Population boom – California is ready for statehood
California’s Constitution outlawed slavery…

12. California

14. Election of 1848