1. Manifest Destiny: U.S. Mexican War
Chapter 9 Section 4
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2. Manifest Destiny Defined
Term first coined by John L. O’Sullivan in Democratic Review, July 1845
Ideological basis for belief:
Sincere belief in democracy and republicanism
Idealized view of U.S. as model for others
Ideology intertwined with racist and imperialistic ideas about Indians and Mexicans

3. Concrete Reasons for Manifest Destiny
Americans tempted by “free” land
U.S. stopped at Mississippi
Knew of California and Oregon
Develop trade with Far East
Pacific Coast to Far East – need base
Jealous of Mexico’s success
Fear of Foreign Invasion
British Claims to Oregon; Mexico in south

4. Five Examples of early U.S. Ideology
Florida and the Seminole War
Jackson “conquers” territory from Spain
Adams-Onis Treaty – 1819
Texas Revolution
New Mexico and the Santa Fe Trail
Oregon: 1818 agree with Britain to leave it Free and open, but by 1840s U.S. changes policy

5. Seminole Warrior

6. Jackson at Pensacola, by Beason S. Lossing
gy Text

7. Texas Independence Texans again defeated at Battle of Goliad
March 1, 1836 declared Independence
Elected Sam Houston as President
Houston’s troops attacked Santa Ana at San Jacinto in April Routed Santa Ana.
Under duress, Santa Ana signs Treaty of Velasco
Mexican government repudiated treaty and never recognized Texas Independence

8. Santa Ana Signs Treaty of Velasco

10. President Houston’s Official Residence, 1837
To Text

11. U.S. Annexation of Texas
Houston and Texas immediately ask for annexation by U.S.
Northern liberals oppose because they fear spread of slavery.
Texas remains independent nation until March 1, 1845.
Mexico sees annexation as a declaration of War and diplomatically leaves Washington

12. 4 Factors leading to U.S./Mexican War
Mexican anger over annexation of Texas
Dispute over Texas/Mexican border
Nueces River or Rio Grande
Instability of Mexican government
19 governments in 25 years
Polk Administration’s drive to expand U.S.
Polk saw his mandate as creating a coast-to-coast nation

13. President James Polk

14. Diplomatic Prelude to War
1845 Polk sends Zachary Taylor to Corpus Christi. Encamped on Nueces River
Sends John Slidell to negotiate. He offers:
$5 million for New Mexico west of Rio Grande
$25 million for California
Strong anti-U.S. sentiment meant that Mexico would not accept offer
March 1846 Taylor crossed Nueces and war begins

15. John Slidell

16. Zachary Taylor

17. Richard Caton Woodville, News From the Mexican War 1848

18. Aftermath of Battle
U.S. troops waiting in Mexico City. A war defense became a war of Conquest
If it was U.S. manifest destiny to conquer land, were they also to conquer people?
Three barriers to the “All Mexico” plan
Northern liberals hated conquest
Slavery question
Racism – could the U.S. really incorporate all the 8 million Mexican and Indians?

19. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Annexed half of Mexico to the U.S. (San Antonio)
Created Rio Grande as international border
U.S. Paid $15 million to Mexico for territory.
1848 irony. Mexicans hear of Gold Rush in California and Treaty on same day
In 1854 Gadsden Purchase solidifies southern boundary and mineral deposits to U.S.

21. Critical Thinking Questions
Why did Polk favor war with Mexico?
Why was public opinion divided over going to war with Mexico?
How did the Mexican-American War begin?
How did views of the war differ among the nation’s regions?
How did the U.S. gain control of New Mexico and California?
What were the terms of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo?
What was the significance of the Gadsden Purchase?
What role did the war with Mexico play in the election of 1848?