1. Cause and Effect The Mexican-American War
Objective : Determining the causes of the Mexican American War

2. He urged Congress to make Texas the 28th U.S. state in 1845
James Monroe
John Quincy Adams
Andrew Jackson
Martin Van Buren
William H. Harrison
John Tyler
James K. Polk
Democrat James K. Polk won the election of & became the “Manifest Destiny” president:
He urged Congress to make Texas the 28th U.S. state in 1845
He wanted to end British claims to Oregon

3. Election of 1844
President John Tyler favored the annexation of Texas. But Tyler proved unpopular.
In 1844, the Whigs nominated Henry Clay for President instead. Clay hoped to avoid the issue of annexation.
But the democratic candidate, James K. Polk, called for the annexation of both Texas and Oregon. At the time, Oregon was jointly held by Britain and the United States. Polk demanded that the British withdraw from all territory south of latitude 5440’N. Polk, the candidate of expansion, won the election.
Shortly before Polk took office,
Tyler asked Congress to annex Texas. Congress voted for admission of Texas as a state in 1845, three days before Tyler left office. A convention of
Texan delegates quickly met and voted for annexation In keeping with his campaign promise, President Polk negotiated a treaty with Britain to divide
Oregon. The United States got the lands south of latitude 49N. Eventually, this territory became the states of Washington, Oregon, and part of Idaho.

4. U.S.-Mexico Disputes
The Annexation of Texas by the U.S. angered the Mexican Government.
Mexico never acknowledged Texas as independent and felt the U.S. had no right to take its territory.
Mexico also did not acknowledge the Treaty of Velasco which set the southern border of Texas as the Rio Grande.

5. The loss of Texas will inevitably result in the loss of New Mexico and the Californias. Little by little our territory will be absorbed until only an insignificant part is left to us.... Our national existence... will end like those weak meteors that, from time to time, shine fitfully in the firmament (sky) and disappear José Maria Tornel y Mendivil

6. The U. S. and Texas considered the Rio Grande as the Southern border
The U.S. and Texas considered the Rio Grande as the Southern border. For Mexico it was the Nueces
Area in Dispute
Nueces River
8.6 D  The students will explain the major issues and events of the Mexican War and their impact on the United States
Rio Grande River

7. Why would the Mexican government not accept the treaty of Velasco?
Santa Anna only signed the treaty of Velasco because his life was in danger.

8. Manifest Destiny Another issue with Mexico was Manifest Destiny.
The land that the United States desired out west (California especially) was all controlled by Mexico.

9. The U.S. Perspective
Most Americans sympathized with Texas during the Texas revolution and republic days because most Texans were former Americans.
As a result of the brutal fighting (at the Alamo, Massacre at Goliad, and other times) the American public developed negative stereotypes against the Mexican people and government
Stereotype: A belief that is incorrectly attributed to an entire group of people

10. Effort to ease the tensions
After Texas Annexation, Mexico threatened war.
U.S. President James K. Polk sent John Slidell to Mexico to work for better relations between the two countries.
John Slidell

11. Slidell’s Mission
1) Get Mexican recognition of the Rio Grande as the border between Mexico and the United States
2) To forgive about $4.5 million owed to U.S. citizens by Mexico from the Mexican War of Independence
3) To discuss the purchase of the New Mexico and California (offered 30 million)
The Mexican government refused to talk with Slidell which angered the U.S.

12. A company of U.S. Calvary commanded by Captain Seth Thornton got into a skirmish with Mexican forces near the Rio Grande.
Thornton was ordered to scout an area about twenty miles northwest of what later became Brownsville, Texas. In April 1846, the Calvary, investigated an abandoned hacienda (Ranch).
Some two thousand Mexican soldiers were encamped in and around the hacienda, and a firefight occurred. Both sides fought ferociously, but the greatly outnumbered U.S. force was forced to surrender after several hours of skirmishing.
The Thornton Affair
Thornton was outnumbered
By about 1900 men.
Skirmish: A small battle

13. Presidents Polk’s Response
President Polk asked for a declaration of war before a joint session of the United States Congress, summing up the need for war by famously stating:
"American blood has been shed on American soil".
Member opposed war: such as Abraham Lincoln “Spot Resolution” ( Can you tell the exact spot blood was shed? Was it on American or Mexican soil? Or Ulysses S. Grant- ploy to get land for America (greed) and extension of slavery.
Congress declared war on Mexico, despite protests by the Mexican government that Thornton had crossed the border into Mexican Texas — a border that Mexico claimed as the Nueces River. the ensuing Mexican-American War was waged from and witnessed the loss of many thousands of lives and nearly half of the territory of Mexico.

14. Further Discussion-Think-Pair-Share
General Ulysses S. Grant, who later commanded the Union forces during the Civil War, called the Mexican War .one of the most unjust ever waged by a stronger against a weaker nation.. He viewed the annexation of Texas as a conspiracy to acquire territory out of which slave states might be formed for the American Union.. He also believed the Mexican Wars, he wrote, .The Southern rebellion was largely the outgrowth of the Mexican War. Nations, like individuals, are punished for their transgressions. We got our punishment in the most sanguinary and expensive war of modern times..
Questions
Did the Mexican War move America toward freedom? Why or why not? Do you agree with General Grant? Why or why not?

15. US Problems with Mexico
1) Americans had a negative view of Mexico because of the Texas Revolution
2) Mexico owed the U.S. money for the Mexican Revolution against Spain
Mexican Problems with US.
1) Mexico felt that Texas was being stolen from them.
2) Mexico didn’t believe in Manifest Destiny and didn’t want to give away their land.

16. Vote Yes-Declare War
Treaty of Velasco is valid
Belief in Manifest Destiny
Texas Annexation is legal
Vote no-not to Declare War
Will expand slavery
Manifest Destiny is unfair to Mexico
Treaty of Velasco is a sham and not valid
Annexation is illegal without Mexico approval.

17. The War

18. What did he do in the Mexican American War?
Important People
What did he do in the Mexican American War?
1. James K. Polk
President in 1845; wanted to settle Oregon boundary dispute with Britain. wanted to acquire California. wanted to incorporate Texas into union.
Zachary Taylor
“Old Rough and Tough”
On President Polk's orders, he took the Army into the disputed territory between the Nueces and Rio Grande Rivers and built a fort on the north bank of the Rio Grande River. When the Mexican Army tried to capture the fort, Taylor's forces engaged in is a series of engagements that led to the Mexican War. His victories in the war and defeat of Santa Ana made him a national hero.
3. John C. Fremont
an American military officer, explorer, the first candidate of the Republican Party and to run on a platform in opposition to slavery.

19. “Old Fuss and Feathers”
Winfield Scott
“Old Fuss and Feathers”
Led the U.S. forces' march on Mexico City during the Mexican War. He took the city and ended the war.
5. Santa Anna
Ousted as President at beginning of the war; worked out a deal with Polk to end war if helped him get back to Mexico and regain power; Regained power and led Mexican troops but did not uphold to plan with Polk
6. Stephen Kearney
American general in war with Mexico, he captured Santa Fe without firing a shot

20. 1845 1846 Texas Matamores In Congress
Texas is annex and becomes 28 state. MX upset and cut ties with the US. Pres. Polk instructs John Slidell to offer up to $25 million for California & $ 5 mill for NM. Insulted Mexicans refuse to see Slidell. Polk starts drafting a declaration for war
1846
Matamores
Zachary Taylor and 4000 men are sent to disputed territory, expecting attack. Conflict with Mexican troops results in 16 American casualties.. Polk now presents declaration to Congress
In Congress
Polk asks for war with Mexico. Northern Whigs fear victory will add more slave states to the Union.
Lincoln- Spot Resolution
Ulysses Grant- believed war was to expand slavery
Proposed Wilmot Proviso (no slavery will be allowed in territory gained from but failed.

21. 1846
Sonoma, California
led by Frémont, seized the town of Sonoma and hoisted a flag that featured a grizzly bear, the rebels proudly declared their independence from Mexico and proclaimed the nation of the Republic of California. Kearny arrived from New Mexico and joined forces with Frémont Mexican troops quickly gave way, leaving U.S. forces in control of California.
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Kearney and his men March from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, across the desert to Santa Fe, New Mexico and crossed 800 miles of barren ground.
New Mexico fell to the United States without a
shot being fired.

22. Meanwhile, Polk hatched a bizarre scheme with Santa Anna, who had been
living in exile in Cuba. If Polk would help him sneak back to Mexico, Santa Anna
promised he would end the war and mediate the border dispute. Polk agreed, but
When Santa Anna returned to Mexico, he resumed the presidency, took command
of the army and abandoned plan with Polk
1847
Vera Cruz
Santa Anna ordered an attack on Taylor’s forces at
Buena Vista. Mexican army boasted superior numbers, but its soldiers suffered from exhaustion. Taylor’s more rested troops pushed Santa Anna into Mexico’s interior.
an amphibious landing at Veracruz, in which an army of 10,000 landed on an island off Veracruz in 200 ships and ferried 67 boats in less than 5 hours.
Mexico City
Scott’s troops then set off for Mexico City, which they captured capital city on September 14, Covering 260
Miles, ending war.

23. 1848 1853 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
1. Mexico agreed to the Rio Grande border for Texas and ceded New Mexico and California to
the United States.
2. The United States agreed to pay $15 million
for the Mexican cession, which included present-day California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, most of Arizona, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming. The treaty guaranteed
3. Mexicans living in these territories freedom of religion, protection of property, bilingual elections, and open borders.
1853
Gadsden Purchase
pay Mexico an additional $10 million for another piece of territory south of the Gila River.

24. Conclusions
By the end of the 1840s, the USA had achieved its Manifest Destiny
America had a “continental” empire from the Atlantic to Pacific
Westward expansion stimulated the economy, spread democracy, & increased U.S. nationalism
But as America spread West, sectional issues over slavery grew

25. The California Gold Rush
The discovery of gold in San Francisco led to a flood of Americans to California in 1849:
“Forty-Niners” hoping to strike it rich came from the East, Latin America, Europe, & Asia ( Chinese largest group)
The California gold rush led to a population boom in the West and exceeded 100,000.
State drew up state constitution that outlawed slavery and provoked fiery protest in Congress.
Compromise of 1850 would end sectional arguments from

26. Government Policy Explanation Northwest Ordinance
  requirements for statehood and petitioning to Union. (5,000 males for assembly, 60,000 required to become state, and outlawed slavery in new territory).
Missouri Compromise
MO- slave
 ME- free
 36’30- no slave above this line with the exception of MO ( DIVIDED COUNTRY)
Wilmot Proviso
 Proposed by David Wilmot; no slavery in territory acquired from MX War; Senate rejected.
Compromise of 1850
1. CA enter Union as a free state
2. UT and NM be decided by popular sovereignty
3. US will pay TX $10 mill to give up claims to NM
4. End the sale of slaves in Washington, D.C.
5. Tougher Fugitive Slave act