1. Manifest Destiny and The Mexican War
Period 5.2
Manifest Destiny and The Mexican War

2. Gone to Texas 1823 - Mexico gains its independence from Spain
Stephen Austin
Given a large chunk of land in Northern Mexico as repayment for his help in the Mexican Revolution
He began to bring families into the land and populating Texas

3. Texan-Mexican Clashes
Within a few years, the Mexican government began to regret granting Austin the land because:
The number of Texans was multiplying each year.
The people moving into Texas were mostly from the South and West, and brought slavery with them (slavery was illegal in Mexico)
1835 – Mexican President, Santa Anna began to raise an army to thwart the colony in the Texas Territory

4. The Alamo The Alamo (San Antonio)
6000 Mexican troops march in to crush the American Colony
200 Americans, led by Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett, made a stand against the Mexicans, but were ultimately surrounded and killed by the Mexican Army.

5. The Lone Star Rebellion
Sam Houston – Governor, and Commander in Chief of the Republic Texas
Led Texan troops into the Battle of San Jacinto against Santa Anna’s Mexican Army
They captured Santa Anna and forced him to sign a treaty in 1836 giving Texas their independence from Mexico
1836 – After the Battle of San Jacinto, Texas became an independent Republic (their own country) and eventually applies to become a slave state in the U.S.

6. The United States, Texas, and mEXICO

7. A Mandate for Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny, the idea that God had ordained this country to spread their democratic and religious institutions across the entire continent, became popular in the 1840s and 1850s.

8. 1844 Presidential Election – the annexation of Texas, and the dispute over the Oregon Territory were the lead issues
Democrats - Pro-expansion, and favored the annexation of Texas
Whigs – tried to ignore the issue of Texas altogether because their Northern supporters didn’t want to add another slave state to the Union.

9. Polk as President Election of 1844
Whig Party- Henry Clay – didn’t take a strong stance on expansionism, especially in regards to Texas
Democrats- James K. Polk – strongly favored expansionism and Manifest Destiny.
James K. Polk, aka “Young Hickory,” wins the election easily

10. The Belated Texas Nuptials
1845, just before leaving office, John Tyler signed a resolution that invited Texas to join the union as the 28th state.

11. Oregon Fever Populates Oregon
By 1800
Four countries claimed the Oregon Territory
U.S.
Spain
Russia
Britain
Spain dropped out after the Florida Treaty in 1819
Russia dropped out with the treaties of 1824 and 1825

12. Britain vs. U.S. for The Oregon Territory
1846
Britain officially controlled the northern part of the Columbia River (Current day Washington)
5,000 Americans settled south of the River (Current day Oregon)

13. “54-40 or Fight!”
Americans in Oregon wanted to claim the land up to the 54th parallel line, and cried “54-40 or Fight.”
Advocated war with Britain if their demands weren't met.
The Oregon Treaty
Gave the U.S. the Oregon territory up to the 49th parallel
Britain took everything above.

14. Polk’s Goals Polk’s Four Goals: A lower tariff
Restore the independent treasury
Acquire California from Mexico
Acquire the Oregon Territory

15. Misunderstandings with Mexico
1845
The majority of California’s population was made up of Native Americans and Spanish Mexicans
Polk wanted to buy California from Mexico
Mexico will not sell because of deteriorated relations stemming from the annexation of Texas

16. British Rumors
Polk began to hear rumors of Britain attempting to buy California, so he sent a delegate to Mexico City to make another offer for California, this time for $25 million.
Mexico again rejects the U.S. offer to buy California

17. American Blood on American Soil
January 13, 1846
Polk orders General Zachary Taylor to take his troops to Corpus Christi, set up camp along the Nueces River, and wait for orders.
disputed territory between The U.S. and Mexico
Polk suspected that this move would provoke Mexico into taking military action against the U.S.

18. Declaring War.
April 1846, 11 Americans were killed by Mexican military forces in the disputed territory.
May 9, 1846
Polk asks Congress for a declaration of War on Mexico
The war was controversial in Congress because of why the attack from Mexico had happened in the first place.

19. The Mastering of Mexico
Polk wanted to buy California, what he got was a war with Mexico that the U.S. would have to win in order to get California.
Mexican-American War Generals:
Zachary Taylor
Won a huge victory for America at Buena Vista
Eventually became the President of the United States
Winfield Scott
Battled his way to Mexico City and conquered it.

20. Fighting Mexico FOR PEACE
The U.S. won the war with Mexico, and Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo officially ended the war.
The terms of the Treaty
The Mexican Cession
Officially ceded Texas to America
Ceded all of Northern Mexico to the U.S. for $15 million

21. Long term Results of the Mexican War
Revived the slavery arguments between states because of all the new land added to U.S.
The Mexican War provided war experience for future Civil War Generals:
Captain Robert E. Lee
Lieutenant Ulysses S. Grant

22. Reopening
The Wilmot Proviso – a bill introduced into Congress that stated that all the land gained from Mexico should remain slave-free.
Never became law because it was not passed by the Senate, but it reopened the wound that had been stitched by the Missouri Compromise back in 1820.