mexican-american war
DESCRIPTION
Mexican-American War. 1846-1848. Causes of the War. Texas was annexed by the United States on December 29, 1845. Many Mexicans were afraid this was just the first step in the United States taking over all of Mexico. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Mexican-American War
1846-1848
Causes of the War
Texas was annexed by the United States on December 29, 1845. Many Mexicans were afraid this was just the first step in the United States taking over all of Mexico.Texas and Mexico were still fighting over the boundaries when the United States annexed Texas.
• Mexico claimed the Nueces River as the boundary.
• Texas and the United States claimed the Rio Grande as the boundary.
Causes of the War
Man U.S. citizens wanted to be repaid for damage done to their businesses and property in Mexico.U.S. leaders were angry when Mexico ordered all U.S. settlers to leave the Mexican territory of California.President James K. Polk sent John Slidell to Mexico to try to buy New Mexico and California.
• Mexico officials refused to meet with him.
Fighting Starts
President Polk sent General Zachary Taylor to the Rio Grande to protect the U.S. border.
General Taylor and 1,000 troops arrived at the Rio Grande in March 1846.
• There was a Mexican camp on the other side of the river.
• General Taylor ordered his men to build a fort along the river by present-day Brownsville.
The President and the General
President James K. Polk General Zachary Taylor
Fighting Starts
In April the Mexican General sent a note to General Taylor and ordered him to “return to the east bank of the Nueces River”.Taylor refused.On April 25 a force of 1,600 Mexican cavalry crossed the Rio Grande and attacked.Most U.S. soldiers were captured, but 11 were killed and 5 were wounded.The next day General Taylor sent word to Washington that the fighting had begun.
Call for War
When President Polk heard about this he went to Congress and asked them to declare war on Mexico. Debate in the Congress
-“American blood has been spilt on American soil!”
-“American blood has been spilt on a Mexican corn field.”
–Abraham Lincoln
Congress declared war on May 13, 1846
Abraham Lincoln in 1846
More Fighting
Before news of the declaration of war more fighting occurred.
May 8-9, 1846 – General Mariano Arista attacked at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma (both on north side of the Rio Grande).
The United States Army won both battles.
Texans in the War
When fighting broke out 6,000 Texans volunteered to join the army.Many Texans wanted the chance to fight their old rival again – Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.Texas Governor James P. Henderson temporarily left office to join and lead Texas forces.Former Texas President Mirabeau B. Lamar joined.Texas Revolutionary, Juan Seguín, was forced to join the Mexican army.
Texans in the War
James P. Henderson Mirabeau B. Lamar Juan Seguín
Texas Governor
1845-1847
2nd Texas President
1838-1841
Texas Revolutionary
Texas Rangers in the War
Several Rangers, including Rip Ford and John Coffee Hays, joined the U.S. Army.-They were scouts for the army.
Some Rangers caused problems
-They wouldn’t follow orders.
-They also attacked Mexican towns.
General Taylor threatened to throw all the Rangers in jail.
Many Mexican feared them.
-They called them Los Diablos Tejanos (“The Texas Devils”).
Texas Rangers in the War
Texas Rangers in the War
U.S. Victory
After winning battles in Texas, General Taylor began an offensive – a major troop advance – into northern Mexico.U.S. forces won two major battles at Monterrey and Buena Vista.At Buena Vista Santa Anna was in command of the Mexican forces and he demanded a surrender from General Taylor.
U.S. Victory
Officer Thomas L. Crittenden simply replied, “General Taylor never surrenders.”After two days Santa Anna’s forces retreated.
New Battle Plan
General Winfield Scott began a new strategy in the fall of 1846
Troops would land at Veracruz and march west to attack Mexico City
President Polk liked his idea so much he gave General Scott 9,000 of General Taylor’s men
Plan in Action
March 1847 Scott’s troops landed near Veracruz
By mid-September they had captured Mexico City
Scott won the battles of Veracruz, Cerro Gordo, Contreras/Padierna, Buena Vista, and Molino del Rey, then assaulted the fort of Chapultepec which surrendered on September 13, 1847.
Other U.S. forces had taken control of California and parts of New Mexico
The Cost of War
Major fighting ended on September 14, 1847 when U.S. troops raised the American flag over the National Palace in Mexico City
Of the 116,000 U.S. soldiers 13,000 died– Many of those died from disease
More than 60 Texans died in battle and 270 died from disease or accidents
The war with Mexico cost America $98 million
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
After the capture of Mexico City U.S. diplomat, Nicholas Trist, met with Mexico’s acting president in the city of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
Nicholas Trist – U.S. diplomat
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Ended the Mexican WarSigned on February 2, 1848Mexico recognized the annexation of TexasMexico recognized the Rio Grande as the borderUnited States agreed to pay the $3.25 million in claims of the U.S. Citizens had against Mexico
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
As part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo Mexico agreed to cede, or give up, some 529,000 square miles of its northern land to the U.S. for $15 million
This is known as the Mexican Cession
Problems in America
After the Mexican War debates over slavery started
Pro-slavery wanted to allow slavery in the new territories
Anti-slavery didn’t want to allow slavery in the new territories
Texas and New Mexico started to fight over boundaries
Compromise of 1850
In 1850 Senator Henry Clay came up with a plan
The federal government would pay Texas $10 million dollars to give up its claim to New Mexico– The state needed the money to pay bills left over from
the Republic of Texas so they agreed
Also the plan said that no territories above the 30th parallel could be a slave state
Compromise of 1850