1. Chapter 12 Section 3

2.  New Mexico – land between Texas and California territories  Considered Spanish property  Santa Fe – mission area set up by the Spanish  Mexico inherited the territory when they won their independence  Mexico soon allowed American traders into Santa Fe  The Santa Fe Trail – the trail from Independence, Missouri to Santa Fe  William Becknell – the first American trader to make the trip  Americans, idealized by Manifest Destiny, thought New Mexico and the Spanish California should be American

3.  The Spanish had colonized California with missions (over 21 of them by 1820)  California – given to Mexico after independence  1833 – Mexican government abolished missions  Ranchos – huge properties bought by settlers  Rancheros – ranch owners  Native Americans were forced to work as slaves in similar conditions as in the Southern plantations  John C. Fremont – wrote about the beauty and resources of California  Advantages = trade with Japan, access to the Pacific Ocean, fertile land  President Polk tried to buy New Mexico and California from the Mexican government; they declined

4.  How to get Mexico to attack first?  Texas-Mexico border  US – Rio Grande  Mexico- Nueces River  Polk sent John Slidell to offer $30 million to recognize the Rio Grande as the boundary and pay off war debt  General Zachary Taylor – sent to stop Mexico from claim more land than it deserved  Mexican troops attacked Taylor troops  Congress approved a declaration of war against Mexico  War? – Democrats wanted war with Mexico; Whigs opposed war  Abraham Lincoln (Illinois congressman) and Frederick Douglass opposed the war  Newspapers supported the war, but anti-war sentiments grew in the North

5.  Three-Part Plan:  American troops would drive Mexican forces out of the disputed area  The United States would seize New Mexico and California  American forces would capture Mexico City  Zachary Taylor accomplished the first goal  Captured Matamoros and Monterrey  After capturing Buena Vista, the border was secure  Stephen Watts Kearny – captured Santa Fe, New Mexico without firing a shot  Bear Flag Republic – small group captured Sonoma  John C. Fremont and Kit Carson joined the Americans  Californios – Mexicans who lived in California  Navy captured ports of Monterey, San Francisco, and San Diego

6.  With California conquered, the only part of the plan that was not accomplished was conquering Mexico City  Winfield Scott – charged to gain Mexico City  Veracruz – conquered this port after 3 weeks and continued marching to Mexico City  Forced to fight armed citizens along the way, Scott eventually conquered Mexico City  Although the US lost 1,721 men to battle, 11,000 to sickness, and $100 million, Mexico lost far more. And, Mexico lost half of its land  Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo – Mexico gave up rights to Texas  Mexican Cession – Mexico gave up California and New Mexico to the United States  Ceded - gave  1853 – Gadsden Purchase – the US paid $10 million for Arizona and New Mexico

7. Section 3-27 Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answers. Checking for Understanding __ 1.Mexican ranch owner __ 2.huge properties for raising livestock set up by Mexican settlers in California __ 3.to give up by treaty __ 4.Mexicans who lived in California A.rancho B.ranchero C.Californios D.cede Define Match the terms on the right with their definitions on the left. B A D C