1. The Mexican-American War
Chapter 11, Section 3
The Mexican-American War

2. Manifest Destiny American expansion depended on land
By 1840’s, the United States had a strong economy and rising population
Needed more room for farms, ranches, businesses, and families
Americans looked to the West as theirs for the taking

3. Manifest Destiny Manifest Destiny
Belief that it was the obvious fate of the United States to settle land all the way to the Pacific Ocean to spread democracy
Coined by John O’Sullivan
Heavily tied to the issue of slavery
Would expansion allow for slavery?

4. Manifest Destiny President John Tyler Election of 1844
Pro-slavery Whig
Wanted to increase Southern power in Congress by admitting Texas to the Union as a slave state
His Whig party disagreed with his plans
Election of 1844
Tyler was not re-nominated by the Whig Party
Henry Clay chosen instead
Democratic Republican selected James K. Polk
James K. Polk defeated Henry Clay and became President

5. Acquiring New Territory
President James K. Polk set out to annex Oregon and Texas as he had promised in his presidential campaign
Annexation of Oregon would provide the United States with a Pacific Ocean port important for their growing trade with China
Dispute with Great Britain over where to draw the United States-Canada border
American expansionists called for the border to be drawn at 54º40’ latitude or war

6. Acquiring New Territory
Neither Great Britain nor the United States wanted a war
A treaty was signed between Great Britain and the United States
Granted all of Oregon territory south of the 49th parallel to the United States
Present day border

7. Acquiring New Territory
Texas
March 1845, Congress approved annexation and only needed the support of the Republic of Texas
Texas politicians favored annexation in hopes that the United States would help solve their military and financial problems
Texas annexed in December of 1845
Mexican government angered by annexation
Considered Texas a stolen province

8. California Under Mexico

9. California Under Mexico
1846
Mexico still controlled present day New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, and California
Area previously controlled by Spain and dominated by the mission system
Mission system faded in present day New Mexico, Nevada, and Arizona
Missions gave way to villages
Missions remained the focus of daily life in California

10. California Under Mexico
Spanish Missions
Huge farming and ranching operations
Used labor of Native Americans
Some Native Americans came to missions willingly, others were forced
Usually not allowed to leave the mission after they arrived
Forced assimilation
Clothing, food, and religion
Sold goods to local pueblos

11. California Under Mexico
After winning independence from Spain in 1821, Mexico began to change policies in California and Texas
Ended the mission system
Mission lands were broken up and given to wealthy California citizens
Created large ranches managed by vaqueros
Cowboys
Life changed very little for Native Americans
Still hard laborers

12. The Californios Californios
Early California settlers
Vast distance between California and the center of Mexico’s new government-felt little connection to Mexico
Reputation for horse riding and hospitality
Small number of United States settlers arrived
Dubbed the Anglos by the Californios
Calls for California independence increased tensions between the United States and Mexico

13. Mexican-American War: Conflict Breaks Out
Tense diplomatic relations between Mexico and the United States
Caused by US involvement in Texas and California
Border Dispute
Mexico claimed its border to be along the Nueces River
United States claimed it to be south along the Rio Grande
June of 1845, President James K. Polk ordered General Zachary Taylor to lead an army into the disputed region

14. Mexican-American War: Conflict Breaks Out

15. Mexican-American War: Conflict Breaks Out
United States diplomat John Slidell was sent to Mexico City to try to settle the border dispute
Offered to purchase New Mexico and California for $30 mil
Mexican officials refused to speak with him
March, 1846
General Zachary Taylor led his army to the Rio Grande
Told by Mexican military to withdraw his troops from the area
Mexican and US army clashed
Several US soldiers were killed
United States declared war on Mexico

16. War Breaks Out
At the beginning of the war, the United States was better supplied but outnumbered and poorly prepared
US Government put out a call for volunteers to fight-asked for 50,000
200,000 responded
Young men seeking adventure
Many Americans supported the war
War opposed by Whig party and Northern abolitionists
Feared the spread of slavery into southern lands

17. War Begins
United States General Zachary Taylor Won battles south of the Nueces River
Proceeded across the Rio Grande and occupied Matamoros, Mexico to wait for more troops
General Stephen Kearny ordered by President James K. Polk to attack New Mexico
Captured the city of Santa Fe
Claimed New Mexico for the United States
Marched west into California

18. The Bear Flag Revolt
Small community of American settlers seized the California town of Sonoma
Bear Flag Revolt
American settlers declared California to be an independent nation
Hoisted a flag of a grizzly bear facing a red star

19. The Bear Flag Revolt John C. Fremont End of the Revolt
American Army Captain
At the time of the revolt, he was on a mapping expedition in Sierra Nevada
Joined the revolting forces in Sonoma
End of the Revolt
United States navy came ashore in California and raised the American flag
General Stephen Kearny’s forces arrived from the east
California was claimed for the United States
Californios surrendered in early 1847

20. War Ends

21. War’s End General Zachary Taylor pushed his forces deep into Mexico
Santa Anna Returned
Thrown from office after the loss of Texas
Returned to power in 1847
Pursued General Zachary Taylor’s army
Battle at Buena Vista
Heavy casualties on both sides
Mexican army forced to retreat
Taylor became a war hero

22. War’s End
President James K. Polk was troubled by General Zachary Taylor’s popularity
When Taylor’s progress in the war stalled, President Polk gave the command to General Winfield Scott
Beloved leader
Known as “Old Fuss and Feathers” because of his strict military discipline
General Winfield Scott and his forces said to the port of Veracruz (strongest fortress in Mexico)

23. War’s End
88 hour assault on Veracruz resulted in a victory for the United States
General Scott penetrated the Mexican interior towards Mexico City
September 1847, Mexico City fell to United States forces
Santa Anna fled the country

24. American Settlement in the Mexican Cession
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Ended the war
Forced Mexico to turn over much of its northern territory to the United States
Known as the Mexican Cession
United States acquired present day
California
Most of New Mexico
Nevada
Most of Arizona
Utah
Parts of Colorado and Wyoming
Land north of the Rio Grande
Size of the United States increased by 25%

26. Agreements and Payments
The United States agreed to pay Mexico $15 million for the land
The United States also assumed $3 million in claims against Mexico
The United States granted Mexican citizens living in the United States rights

27. Agreements and Payments
United States hoped for a railroad entirely on American soil
James Gadsden
US Minister to Mexico
Gadsden Purchase
Purchase of parts of Arizona and New Mexico
United States agreed to pay Mexico $10 million

28. Surge of American Settlers
Americans flooded to the Southwest
Struggle of land and resources between settlers and longtime residents
Racism against Mexicans, Native Americans, and Mexican Americans by white settlers

29. Surge of American Settlers
Treaty of Guadalupe promised to protect the rights of Mexican Americans, but the differences between Mexican and American land led to confusion
Mexican Americans were often forced to go to court with land titles to prove land ownership
Legal battles often bankrupted landowners

30. Surge of American Settlers
American settlers also battled with Native Americans for land
Settlers often tried to take control of valuable resources
Settlers did not respect Native Americans holy lands
Navajo and Apache tribes tried to protect their land and livestock for settlers

31. Cultural Encounters
Different cultures shaped one another in the Southwest
Laws printed in both Spanish and English
Cities such as San Antonio and Santa Barbara reflect Spanish heritage
Cities such as Taos and Tesuque reflect Native American influence
Communities often celebrated both American and Mexican holidays

32. Cultural Encounters
Mexican and Native American knowledge and traditions also shaped many local economies
Mexican Americans taught US settlers about mining
Ranching communities were often first started by Mexican settlers
Introduced new types of horse saddles
Adobe
Developed by the Anasazi Native Americans
Still used as building material today
Trade
Exchange of different goods

33. Water Rights
In the Eastern United States, water-use laws commonly required land owners whose property bordered streams or rivers to maintain free flow of water
Restricted from dam building as to not infringe on water rights of downstream neighbors

34. Water Rights Southwestern United States Climate Brigham Young Dry
Did not permit for large-scale agriculture without irrigation
Dams and canals required
Conflicted with the accepted Eastern tradition of equal access to water
Brigham Young
Established a strict code regulating water rights for the Mormon community
In any dispute, the good of the community would outweigh the interests of individuals
His approach stood as an example for Western water laws