1. Mexican-American War

2. Polk Urges War
Hostilities between the US and Mexico flared during the Texas Revolution (1836) reignited in 1845
POTUS – Polk annexed Texas in 1844
Mexico never recognized Texas Independence
Polk believed that war with Mexico would bring NM, CA and other territories into the Union
Border disputes
Texas – Rio Grade
Mexico – Nueces

3. Slidell’s Rejection Polk sent John Slidell to Mexico
Spanish Speaking advisor
Purchase CA and NM
Rio Grande as border
Mexican Officials refuse to meet with Slidell
Insulted, Polk gave orders for General Zachary Taylor to march to the Rio Grande
Forces in Mexican Territory
Mexico attacked, Killing 9 American troops

4. Expansion Polk promises to annex Texas and Oregon in NW and to buy CA
“Manifest Destiny”
Thousands migrate to Oregon Country on the Oregon Trail
1845- US annexes Texas and adopts it as a state
1846- Oregon Treaty signed in 1846 with Britain
Splits land at 49th parallel

6. War Begins Polk sent war message to Congress War declared - 1846-1848
“American blood on American soil”
War declared
First war fought mostly on foreign soil in Mexico
Mexican Army unprepared
US army had technical advantage
Ulysses S. Grant, Robert E. Lee
Immigrants made up half of US force

7. Republic of CA John C. Fremont seized town of Sonoma in 1846
Declared Independence and created the Republic of CA
US controlled CA after Fremont joins forces with military

8. Effects of War Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo
1. Mexico recognized US annexation of TX
2. Gave up 500,000 square miles of territory (CA, AZ, NM, UT, NV, CO, WY) for $15 mil
Rio Grande River = border between Mexico and TX
Increase size of the US by 25%

9. Gadsden Purchase
1853 US paid $10 million for the southern parts of Arizona and New Mexico to build a railroad
Completed the map we know of US