1. The Mexican American War 1846-1848

2. Polk Urges War ► Hostilities with Mexico flared again when US annexed Texas in 1945 ► Causes for Polk’s Military Action 1.Issues over border of Mexico and Texas 2.President Herrera refused to meet with Polk’s emissary in regard to purchasing California and New Mexico and Texas border.

3. 3. Domestic Dispute over Slavery as a Cause ► Southerners wanted war to gain more land to: a)expand slavery b)gain more slave states in Congress ► North wanted Congress to pass Wilmot Provisio  Proposed Amendment to military appropriations Bill of 1846 that prohibited slavery in lands that might be gained from Mexico ► Southerners felt provision was attack on slavery, pushed for war even more.

4. The War Begins and Lincoln Questions ► US actions pushed Mexico towards war  General Taylor positioned troops at Rio Grande  American military also in California, a territory violation ► Mexico sent troops across Rio Grande, skirmish left 11 US troops dead. ► Polk sent message to Congress declaring that “American blood upon American soil.” Wanted war declared. ► Lincoln questioned the truthfulness of this cause for war.

5. Was Lincoln Unpatriotic?

6. The War ► New Mexico fell to US troops without a shot fired ► New Mexico troops and joined forces in CA to quickly win over CA  US citizens already had declared independence from Mexico and named themselves the BEAR FLAG REPUBLIC ► Military victories came one after another for the US in Mexico

7. Polk’s “Ally” ► Polk schemed with Santa Anna, who was living in exile in Cuba ► Scheme: Polk help Santa Anna come back to power, Santa Anna would end war and establish border in US favor ► Santa Anna comes to power in Mexico, immediately takes command of Army, ordering attack on Taylor’s forces ► But US forces more rested than Mexican troops

8. End of the War ► Mexico City was captured Sept. 14, 1847 ► Mexico lost 50,000 men, ½ its land ► US lost 13,000 men (11,000 from diseases)

9. ► California and New Mexico territories added to U.S. ► Texas border at Rio Grande accepted ► Mexico gives up all claim to Texas. ► U.S. pays Mexico $15 million and agrees $15 million and agrees to assume American to assume American citizens' claims citizens' claims ($3,250,000) against ($3,250,000) against Mexico. Mexico. Results – Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

10. Results – Gadsden Purchase ► $10 million for territory ► US gets territory South of the Gila River

11. All territory for Continental US now Complete

12. ► Renewal of slavery conflict  Wilmot Proviso sought to restrict slavery from new territories slavery from new territories  Southerners (led by Calhoun) stated that Congress had no right to restrict slavery's expansion. that Congress had no right to restrict slavery's expansion. Political cartoon depicting David Wilmot and abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison as witches. Wilmot is chanting "Bubble Bubble Toil and Trouble, Boil Free Soil, the Union spoil" New Problems