1. Texas Independence and The Mexican War

2. Background Slavery is becoming a huge political issue
South – if we enter Union, we can leave it

3. Territorial Expansion by Mid-19th Century
Texas
In 1821, Mexico won independence from Spain
The new Mexican government encouraged Americans to come
Thousands of U.S. speculators moved to Texas

4. Mexican Encouragement
JQA and Jackson offer to buy Texas
12 cents an acre!!!!!!
Control Indian Raids
Need people/money
Bring in technology
Follow Mexican Customs
Become Roman Catholic
NO SLAVES
“Anglo” / Mexican problems
Ignored ban on slavery
Refused to convert
Wanted Self-Rule

5. Why Mexico Good farming soil Good for cotton 1830 – 20,000 whites
2,000 slaves
1834 – Ask Mexico to separate

6. Texas Independence
Santa Anna becomes dictator of Mexico – views Americas as threat
Americans are flooding in
6 – 1 ratio
1835 – Stephen Austin
Successful, Wealthy and Industrious
Leads armed rebellion
1836 – Unified Constitution for all Mexican land

7. Culture Wars….Today vs. The Past

8. REMEMBER THE ALAMO!!!!!

9. The Fight for the Alamo 187 Texans Santa Anna – 3,000 men
On the thirteenth day, Santa Anna ordered his men to storm the fortress.
EVERYONE was dead. Santa Anna executes men who surrender.
Bodies covered in oil and it on fire
Texans shocked/angered by massacre

10. 10

11. Texans were defeated at the Alamo
Texans were defeated at Goliad
In May 1836, Santa Anna recognized Texas’ independence & its territory to the Rio Grande
But…Texans won at San Jacinto & captured General Santa Anna

12. Texas and the United States
Sam Houston – 1st President asked the US to annex Texas
Jackson and Van Buren say NO – WHY????
SLAVERY
North worried – upset balance
Independent Nation for 10 years

13. Why did Mexico want Americans to settle in Texas?
Why did Americans want to come to Texas?
What brought American settlers into conflict with the Mexican Government?
What happened at the Alamo? How did Americans Respond
Why did the United States reluctant to annex Texas?

14. John Tyler and Texas Tried to Annex Texas in 1844
Needed the Votes – kicked of the WHIG party
“Common Man”
Said that England wanted Texas…
Congress didn’t buy it – Said No
Tyler not nominated in 1844 Election

15. James K Polk Last Jacksonian President
Last strong president before the Civil War
Only wanted to serve one term
“Who is James K Polk?” – Whigs
Died 4 months after leaving office

16. James K. Polk – First “Dark Horse” president

17. Polk’s Platform EXPANSION
Slave owner/expansionist
Annex Texas (Appealed to the South – SLAVES)
54, 40 – End US/British occupation of Oregon (Appealed to the North – NO SLAVES)
Get California
Polk won – Congress saw this the OK for expansion and Annex Texas
Wants all Mexican land

19. Rio Grande boundary
Nueces River boundary

20. Steps to War
Polk tells Gen. Zachary Taylor to take US troops into the disputed area by Rio Grande
Protect from possible Mexican Attack
HOW WOULD YOU REACT IF YOU WERE MEXICO????

21. Steps to War
Sends John Slidell Mexico City to negotiate the purchase California & New Mexico for $30 million
Mexican officials refused to meet with Slidell

22. Beginning of the War
March 1846 – General Taylor makes camp at the Rio Grand
April 1846 – Mexican commander insisted U.S. troops must leave
Taylor refused to move
Mexican forces crossed the Rio Grande and attacked group of 63 U.S. soldiers
11 Americans killed
Polk to Congress - “Mexico has shed American blood upon the American soil.”

23. Support of the War Leads to National Pride
Spread American/Republican Values
South loved the war – Any new territory would become slave states

24. Opposition to the War WHIGs – unjustified Northern abolitionists
Abraham Lincoln wrote the “Spot Resolutions” in 1848
Asked Polk to show were blood was spilled

25. The Mexican-American War
John C Fremont won in California
The Mexican-American War
The disputed area of Texas
Zachary Taylor won in northern Mexico
Stephen Kearney captured New Mexico
Kearney captured New Mexico & Frémont took California
Scott occupied Mexico City
Winfield Scott captured Mexico City

26. The Rio Grande became the recognized U.S. southern border
Ending the Mexican War
The U.S. grew 20% by adding the Mexican Cession (present-day NM, AZ, CA, Utah, NV, & parts of CO & WY
Added the Gadsden Purchase in 1853 to build a southern transcontinental railroad
In 1848, U.S. & Mexico ended the war with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo:
The Rio Grande became the recognized U.S. southern border

27. Impact of the Mexican War
17 month war cost $100,000,000 and 13,000 American lives (mostly to disease)
New territories brought into the Union is causes slavery to explode as a political issue (1 million square miles of land)
Upset the balance between North and South
Manifest Destiny is realized (for now)

28. Starts again in the late 1800’s – Early 1900’s

29. US Territorial Expansion
When?
A - 13 Original Colonies
1776
From Where?
Great Britain
Why?
US declared independence from Great Britain 29

30. US Territorial Expansion
When?
B - Western Lands
1783
From Where?
Great Britain
Why?
Part of results of Treaty of Paris (ended Revolutionary War) 30

31. US Territorial Expansion
When?
C - Louisiana Purchase
1803
From Where?
France
Why?
Napoleon needed $
Jefferson wanted to buy New Orleans
He got all of this instead! 31

32. US Territorial Expansion
When?
D - Florida
1819
From Where?
Spain
Why?
Andrew Jackson invaded
Spain then sold it to us for $5 million D 32

33. US Territorial Expansion
When?
E - Texas
1845
From Where?
Republic of Texas (Independent Country)
Why?
Texas independent from Mexico in 1836
Northerners feared it would become a slave state
Fears finally overcome in 1844 Presidential election D 33

34. US Territorial Expansion
When?
F - Oregon Territory
1846
From Where?
Great Britain
Why?
Claimed G. Britain, Russia, Spain, & US)
Americans demanded “54° 40’
Britain compromised 49° & US accepted D 34

35. US Territorial Expansion
When?
G - Mexican Cession
1848
From Where?
Mexico
Why?
In Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, US offers $15 million for G D 35