Texas Independence and the Mexican Revolution

Tensions between Mexico and the USMexican government encouraged US

settlement in TexasPrevent border violationsProtection from Natives

Mexico gave massive land grants to empresarios Bring in settlers and sell landPledged to obey Mexican laws and observe the

Roman Catholic faith

Tensions between Mexico and the USUntil 1830s, most Anglos willing to live by

these rules As population surged, Mexico rethought

immigration policies Tensions over social issues1829: Mexico had freed slaves, insisted Texans do

the same1830: Mexico closed borders, created heavy

import tax on goods from U.S.

Texas Fights for Independence!

Mexico didn’t have enough troops to enforce border closure

1833: Santa Anna suspended Mexican constitution

Rebellion erupts … the Texas Revolution is on!

Fight at the Alamo!Santa Anna determined to

force Texas to obey Mexican law

Anglo forces moved to Alamo; if they could hold the Alamo, they could stop Santa Anna

Feb 23-March 6, 1836: Santa Anna attacked AlamoSiege ended when Mexican

troops scaled the walls

Independence!March 2, 1836: Texas declared independence,

arguing Mexico had violated fundamental rights

March 16, 1836: Texans ratified constitution based on the US. Constitution

“Remember the Alamo!”Six weeks after Alamo, Houston and 900

men surprised Mexican soldiers at Battle of San Jacinto

Texans killed 630 Mexicans in 15 minutes, captured Santa Anna

Santa Anna freed only after he signed Treaty of Velasco granting independence to Texas

Analyzing IndependenceRead the packet of documents (A-D)

and fill out the graphic organizer. Make sure to answer the question at the bottom since this will lead into a

class discussion!

Analyzing Independence1. Why did Texans declare independence?2. Were these honorable men, fighting for freedom, or

greedy slaveholders? What evidence from the documents supports your

opinion? Which of these pieces of evidence do you find

more/less trustworthy? Why? Why do historians still debate this question?

3. Once Texas declares and wins its independence, why would Mexico object to American annexation of Texas?

The Republic of Texas1836: San Houston elected president of

the Republic of Texas Most Texans hoped U.S. would annex

Southerners pro annexation since slavery used in Texas

Northerners against for same reason

Texas Annexation1844: Southern expansionist James A.

Polk elected PresidentMarch 1845: Congress approved Texas

annexationDec 1845: Texas officially 28th state

Mexico cut off all diplomatic ties with the U.S.

Causes of Mexican-American War

1. Manifest Destiny2. Annexation of Texas by U.S.3. Dispute over the boundary of

Texas

Boundary DisputeTexas and U.S. claim that the Rio

Grande marks the southern border of Texas

Mexican government argues that the border is the Nueces River

Nueces River boundaryRio Grande boundary

War on the Horizon: “Mr. Polk’s War”“In the White House now was James Polk, a Democrat, an expansionist, who, on the night of his inauguration,

confided to his Secretary of the Navy that one of his main objectives was the acquisition of California. His

order to General Taylor to move troops to the Rio Grande was a challenge to the Mexicans. It was not at all clear that the Rio Grande was the southern boundary of Texas, although Texas had forced the defeated Mexican general Santa Anna to say so when he was a prisoner. The traditional border between Texas and Mexico had been the Nueces River, about 150 miles to the north,

and both Mexico and the United States had recognized that as the border. However, Polk, encouraging the Texans to accept annexation, had assured them he

would uphold their claims to the Rio Grande.        Ordering troops to the Rio Grande, into territory

inhabited by Mexicans, was clearly a provocation. Taylor had once denounced the idea of the annexation of Texas. But now that he had his marching orders, his

attitude seemed to change.”     

Don’t mess with Texas

James K. Polk

Prelude to WarRead the selection from The PBS

documentary “Manifest Destiny and the Mexican American War.” Respond to these

two questions:

1. What political, economic, and social pressures promoted American expansion?

2. Why was it nearly impossible for Mexico to protect its northern territories like Texas and California?

Politics and WarPolk believed war with Mexico

would win the U.S. more territoryIn Mexico, Santa Anna replaced by

General Jose HerreraNov 1845: Polk sent John Slidell to

Mexico to purchase California and New Mexico and extend the official Texas border to Rio Grande

Herrera refused to meet with Slidell

John Slidell

Politics and WarPolk figured any form of

Mexican aggression would unify country

Ordered General Zachary Taylor to blockade the Rio Grande

Mexican government saw this as violation of Mexican border

Boundary Violations!March 1846: Taylor made camp at

the Rio Grande in disputed territoryApril 1846: Mexican commander

insisted U.S. troops leave, Taylor refused

Mexican forces crossed the Rio Grande, attacked U.S. soldiers11 Americans killed

Declaring War…May 11, 1846: Polk asked Congress for

declaration of war“Mexico has shed American blood upon the

American soil”Two days later Congress declared war on

Mexico

Support for the War1. Southerners supported war – new

slave territories2. Greater national pride3. Spread democratic values

Opposition to the War1. Whig Party thought the conflict was

unjustified2. Abolitionists feared new slave

territories

1848: Illinois Congressman Abraham Lincoln wrote the “Spot Resolutions” asking Polk to show the spot where American blood had been shed on

American soil

Gaining New Mexico1846: Polk orders troops to march

from Kansas to Santa Fe, NM (all 800 miles!)

Troops met by New Mexicans who wanted to join the US

New Mexico was won without a shot being fired!

Gaining California1845: American settlers, angry that Mexico had

turned down U.S. offer to buy CA, seized town of SonomaRaised flag with image of grizzly bearDeclared independence from Mexico, named

themselves the “Bear Flag Republic”U.S. troops arrived and Mexican troops gave

way

The War Moves SouthUnder the command of Ulysses S. Grant

and Robert E. Lee, numerous American victories

Mexican troops tried, but were generally unsuccessful

Polk and Santa Anna: if Polk helped him return to power, Santa Anna would sign a peace accord with U.S.

The War Ends…Mexico

Lost 50,000 menLost nearly half its landGeneral hatred of the United States

grows

United StatesLost 13,000 men – 2,000 to battle,

11,000 to diseaseEnlarged territory by 1/3

The Treaty of Guadalupe HidalgoForced on Mexican governmentU.S. gained:

1. California, Nevada, and Utah2. Most of Arizona and New Mexico3. Parts of Colorado and Wyoming

Texas southern boundary would be Rio Grande

U.S. agreed to pay $15 million to Mexico and pay Mexican debts to U.S. citizens

Gadsden Purchase1853: President Franklin Pierce

authorized $10 million payment to Mexico for one last piece of territoryLast piece of territory in what makes up the

modern day continental U.S.