1. North and South C.1845

2. Competition!
Find a word relating to your homework with the highest numerical score based on Polk and the Mexican War.

3. Flipped Learning
Compare your grids and profiles with the person next to you and add any information you might have missed in green pen. Once completed complete the scrabble activity (on the next slide) based on what you have found out so far.
Causes
Events
Consequenc es

4. What was the main cause of the Mexican War?
Good learning:
Understand the causes of the Mexican War
Great learning:
Explain how the causes of the war can be categorised
Even better:
Evaluate the main reason for the start of the Mexican War
Key Words:
Manifest Destiny
Annexation

5. TEXAS (p.41-2) Texas had been a part of Mexico
Americans, however, had been settling into Texas TASK 1: Add 3 pieces of evidence of this from P1
In the winter of , Texas declared independence from Mexico TASK 2: Add detail on the consequences of this from P2 (write about American involvement in a different colour)
TASK 3: Use P3 to create a table outlining Northern views and Southern views on Texas joining the Union (use the different coloured pen you used in task 2). Bullet point underneath what the American government did.
TASK 4: Bullet point why Texas became an issue in 1844.
Polk also wished to annex New Mexico and California (owned by Mexico). American’s were starting to settle in the areas. American’s believed in Manifest Destiney.
Good learning
Understand the causes of the Mexican War
Great learning
Categorise the causes of the war
Even better
Evaluate the main reason for the war

6. Flipped Learning Compare what you have written for the causes section.
Add anything you don’t have in green pen.
Causes
Events
Consequences
Good learning
Understand the causes of the Mexican War
Great learning
Categorise the causes of the war
Even better
Evaluate the main reason for the war

7. 3 Different types of causes
When looking at why events happen throughout History, there are three different types of causation.
Necessary Preconditions
Developing Causes
Trigger Cause
Good learning
Understand the causes of the Mexican War
Great learning
Categorise the causes of the war
Even better
Evaluate the main reason for the war

8. Necessary Preconditions
Without necessary preconditions the event could not happen. It/they need to be in place before any of the other causes of the event. They make the event more likely to happen.
E.g. Imagine that there is a shooting. One of the necessary preconditions would be the gun. Without this, there would never have been a shooting, and it needs to be present before and of the other causes can make the shooting occur.
Good learning
Understand the causes of the Mexican War
Great learning
Categorise the causes of the war
Even better
Evaluate the main reason for the war

9. Developing Causes
These causes made it more likely that event would happen, but they would have had no effect without the necessary preconditions. In some cases, without the necessary preconditions these causes themselves could never have happened.
E.g. A developing causes of a shooting could be an argument between two people. This would make the shooting more likely, however it would have had no effect with out the Necessary Precondition (gun).
Good learning
Understand the causes of the Mexican War
Great learning
Categorise the causes of the war
Even better
Evaluate the main reason for the war

10. Trigger Cause
This is what actually sparks off the event. However, it would have no effect whatsoever without the previous two types of causes. In particular, the developing causes creates the situation in which the trigger would immediately lead to event.
E.g. In the shooting, the trigger event would be the gun trigger being pulled. Pulling the trigger actually caused the shooting. However, it would not have happened without the gun and the argument.
Good learning
Understand the causes of the Mexican War
Great learning
Categorise the causes of the war
Even better
Evaluate the main reason for the war

11. Mexican War: Causation
TASK: With what you have learnt so far, add in the different causes into the relevant sections…..
Necessary Preconditions
Developing Causes
Trigger Cause
Mexican laws (ban slavery and ban immigration from USA)
Democrat James Polk was elected president on a platform that promised the annexation of Texas and Oregon
Tyler's annexation of Texas
There was a boundary dispute between Mexico and Texas, which the USA inherited
The Mexican government was weak
Polk sent US troops into the disputed border area, north of the Rio Grande River, hoping to provoke an incident that would result in war
During the 1820’s, American settled in Texas
Manifest Destiney
Good learning
Understand the causes of the Mexican War
Great learning
Categorise the causes of the war
Even better
Evaluate the main reason for the war

12. So… What was the main cause of the Mexican War?
As mentioned last week, one type of 25 mark essay you can be asked in your exam is a causation question and so in these essays you are expected to decide the main reason for the event in the question.
TASK: On your whiteboards I would like you to come up with a way of how you might decide what the main cause is. What sort of things should you look for in order to help you determine whether it is the main cause or not?
What you are aiming for, is to find the developing cause, that you think created a situation/context in which the trigger event could take place.
Good learning
Understand the causes of the Mexican War
Great learning
Categorise the causes of the war
Even better
Evaluate the main reason for the war

13. ‘……. Was the main cause of the Mexican War
‘……. Was the main cause of the Mexican War.’ Assess the validity of this view.
TASK:
Have a look back through you list of developing causes and rank them 1 to 5 in order of how responsible they were for the outbreak of the war.
Copy out the above question and input the cause that you put as No. 1 and underneath I would like you to write a PEE on why it is the main cause for the war.
Now write a PEE paragraph that counters the cause (look at one of the other four you could have chosen) and say why that cause is also responsible.
CHALLENGE: Try to undermine the counter argument to say why the cause in the question is still the main cause for the war.
Managed to finish…..
Swap your answer with a partner and peer assess their answer. You should comment on the PEE structure, specific knowledge used and how well they have developed their explanations.
Good learning
Understand the causes of the Mexican War
Great learning
Categorise the causes of the war
Even better
Evaluate the main reason for the war

14. Lesson 2

15. What was the main cause of the Mexican War?
Good learning:
Understand the reasons why America won the war
Great learning:
Explain the consequences and impact of the Mexican War
Even better:
Apply knowledge and understanding to an America source question.
Key Words:
Manifest Destiny
Annexation

16. Why did America win the war?
Now that you have an overview of the Mexican War, we need to identify reasons why America won the Mexican War.
Why did America win the Mexican War?
TASK: Using your grid from flip learning, create a mind map of reasons why America won the Mexican War
Good learning
Understand the reasons why America won the war
Great learning
Explain the consequences and impact of the Mexican War
Even better
Application to an America source question

17. Why did America win the war?
USA had twice the population and a much stronger industrial base than Mexico (more military potential)
USA had: superior artillery, pool of junior officers trained at West Point, enthusiastic volunteers, naval supremacy
Summer 1846 – Colonel Kearney marched unopposed into Santa Fe and annexed New Mexico
American settlers proclaimed California independent. They were helped by Fremont, and the US Navy (Santa Anna refuses to accept surrender)
Zachary Taylor win battles over Santa Anna in 1846 (Battle of Buena Vista). Scott captured Mexico City in September 1847
TASK: Rank them 1 to 5 in order of importance and then write a paragraph that explains the MAIN reason America won the Mexican War
Good learning
Understand the reasons why America won the war
Great learning
Explain the consequences and impact of the Mexican War
Even better
Application to an America source question

18. Consequences of the war: Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
$15,000,000
Texas; California and present day New Mexico, Cali, Nevada and Utah; pay Mexico $15 million (called Mexican Seccsion)
Half a million square miles,
Polk sent Trist, had a change of heart and recalled
Trist ignored Polk an signed treaty
Get’s it to Washington where Polk distains, but sends to the Senate
Senate ratify (34:14) 5 democrats and 7 whig
Good learning
Understand the reasons why America won the war
Great learning
Explain the consequences and impact of the Mexican War
Even better
Application to an America source question

19. Did the Mexican War cause tension between the North and South?
Most of the territory was South of the Missouri Compromise line, but not in the Louisiana Purchase Territory. There was disagreement as to whether it would be slave or free.
Georgia newspaper: it would ‘secure to the South the balance of power in America, and, for all coming time…’
Some in Polk’s own party were not happy, and felt moved to speak on the matter. Some disagreed because cotton was already grown in areas of New Mexico. Southern Convention ‘ California is particularly adapted for slave labour.’
Polk did not understand what the fuss was about. ‘There is no probability that any territory will ever be acquired from Mexico in which slavery would ever exist.
North: Massachusetts's legislature called the war ‘unconstitutional’ because of its ‘objective to expand slavery… control of free states’.
Some agree with Polk e.g. Crittenden of Kentucky said slavery was not an issue.
Get students to divide statements into ‘was a turning point’ and ‘was not a turning points’
North: Mexican war was part of a ‘slave conspiracy theory’
Good learning
Understand the reasons why America won the war
Great learning
Explain the consequences and impact of the Mexican War
Even better
Application to an America source question
TASK: Put the following statements in to either ‘turning point’ or ‘not turning point’ in terms of tension.

20. With reference to this source and your understanding of the historical context, assess the value of this source to an historian studying the reasons for the outbreak of war with Mexico
Extract from President James K. Polk’s address to Congress May 11, 1846, where he called for a declaration of War against Mexico.
The strong desire to establish an honourable peace with Mexico, and the readiness of this Government to regulate and adjust our geographical boundary, induced me to seek the reopening of diplomatic relations. An envoy of the United States was sent in peace to talk to the Mexican Government, but they refused to receive him. After a long-continued series of menaces, Mexico has at last invaded our territory and shed the blood of our fellow-citizens on our own soil. We have tried every effort at reconciliation but Mexico assumed military action against our troops at Del Norte, even though American soldiers were only protecting private property and personal rights. Mexico has declared that hostilities have commenced, and that the two nations are at war. As war exists, despite our efforts to avoid it, we are called upon by every consideration of duty and patriotism to defend our nation.
TASK: You have each been given a worksheet in which you should plan your answer to the above question based on this source.
Good learning
Understand the reasons why America won the war
Great learning
Explain the consequences and impact of the Mexican War
Even better
Application to an America source question

21. Is the author significant/have insight
POINT
EVIDENCE
EXPLAIN
What to pick out of the source for the paragraph
Own knowledge you have on the points you have picked out
Does what you’ve mentioned make the source valuable OR limited.
PROVENANCE
Nature/type
Author
Audience
Date/context
Purpose
Who is the author
Who is the audience
The date/context
Is the author significant/have insight
Is the audience large or significant
Does the source give you insight you will not get elsewhere?
EMPHASIS
TONE
Language
Emotion
Why is the author using this language/emotion?
What reaction does the author want?
Does the tone convey emotion or strength of response to a reaction or event?
CONTENT & ARGUMENT (x2)
Views/opinions
Details
Is this what was happening?
Does the content/argument give you insight to the debates and issues at the time?
Does the content/argument show you how a person or group perceived the world
VIEW POINT ARE VALUABLE

22. Flipped Learning
Finishing planning your answer to the source question about the Mexican War
Add the information on the Westward expansion and Mexican war on to your revision grids.
You will also have a test on the Mexican War next lesson so you will need to revise it!