Standard 3.2

The Monroe Doctrine, The Texas Revolution and the Mexican War

The Monroe Doctrine

• British were afraid of Democratic Revolution– French Rev Napoleon

• Many Latin American Countries were throwing off their mother countries

• Europe had business ties and political interest in controlling the Revolutions

• The US had an interest in keeping powerful European countries away from the young United States

Goals of Monroe Doctrine

• Keep Europeans & Russians away from Western Hemisphere

• Keep US from entangling in foreign affairs

• Prevent war in Latin America• The message was largely ignored at

the time– US had no Navy and a weak army– Will be the basis of the Roosevelt

Corollary (HIS 202)

Monroe Doctrine and Manifest Destiny

• “Our manifest destiny [is] to overspread the continent allotted by Providence [God] for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions.”

• The Monroe Doctrine put in the US claim for the whole Continent

What are the assumptions of Manifest Destiny?

• Other “people’s” are less favored by “Providence” (God)

• They should get out of the way or be moved by the US

Getting Oregon• Shared with Britain• Almost went to war

over it– 54’40 or fight!– President Polk agreed

to modern boundary to avoid war in 1846

– We were about to fight Mexico over Texas!

– Don’t fight a 2-Front War!

Texas

• Many Americans moved to Texas at the invitation of the Mex. Gov’t– The land was not well settled– Mex. Wanted the land used (taxes)

• Requirements– Must be Roman Catholic– “Mexicanized”/pay taxes to MX– No slavery

Texas Revolution Causes• Texas Americans

outnumbered Mexicans in the area

• Refused to convert or free slaves

• MX Pres and Gen. Santa Anna wiped out local rights and raised an army to suppress the Texans

Texas Revolts• Sam Houston Commanded TX

army• Santa Anna the MX army• Early MX victories– Alamo at San Antonio – wiped

out 200 Tx Amer.– US Amer. Rushed to aid TX

• Santa Anna lured to San Jacinto– Captured Santa Anna– Santa Anna signed 2 treaties

Santa Anna’s TreatiesEnding the TX Rev.

• TX gets independence from MX

• MX troops withdrew• Rio Grande would be

southern TX border• When released he denied

the terms as being forced

TX after the Revolution

What to do with the Lone Star State

• US public wanted to annex TX

• TX wanted this as well• US refused to annex, but did

recognize TX– Free-Soil North was afraid of

the large slave state entering the union

– Didn’t want to upset world opinion by insulting MX

Accepting TX

• TX was independent for about 10 years– Mx desired it but couldn’t take it– Britain had thought of allying but didn’t

• TX accepted into US in 1845– Pr. Tayler pushed annexation through– Got a “joint resolution” or agreement legislated by

both houses rather than a treaty• A political issue since a joint resolution was easier to

pass

Accepting TX didn’t fix MX problem

• After compromising on Oregon, Polk would have issues with MX

• TX had caused cold relations• Boundary of TX was disputed• Polk also wanted California which was

part of MX– Tried to buy it, but MX was insulted

Polk goes into no man’s land

• Sent troops into disputed territory

• Waited for a clash• When fight occurred

he claimed MX invaded US lands

• Asked for War Decleration

The Mexican War

• Polk sent troops to take California

• By the time they got there a CA group had already taken over

• Gave CA to the US• US troops swept

into MX• Got as far as MX

City– Surrounded the

city which led to a surrender

Terms of Surrender

• The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo– US claims of TX affirmed– US received land from TX to CA• About ½ of MX’s territory

– US gave $15 million dollars• Some Senators did not like the treaty– Said the war was “unjust”

• Manifest Destiny won out and the treaty was accepted