THE HISPANIC SOUTHWEST
MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE After 10+ years of fighting Mexico won
independence from Spain However, in the following years Mexico
experienced political chaos
MAP OF NORTH AMERICA AFTER MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE
NORTHERN TERRITORIES The far Northern territories of
California, New Mexico, and Texas were part of Mexico however, these areas experienced a great deal of political independence…..why?....
THINKING CRITICALLY Explore the map on the next page
Note the location of New Mexico, California, and Texas
Locate the capital Mexico city
Why did these areas of Texas, New Mexico, and California experience a lot of political independence at this time from Mexico?
ANSWER These areas were located about 1,000
miles from Mexico City making them geographically removed from the government in Mexico
THE NORTHERN TERRITORIES (NM, CA, TX)
Not very populated Native Americans and Hispanic settlers
Mexican Frontier as it was called was threatened in several ways: Settlements in NM and Texas faced Apache,
Comanche, and other Native American attacks Westward expansion from the U.S.A. Southward expansion from Russians (1780’s
Russia began Colonizing Alaska)
Russian threat to Mexico’s Northern Territories of southward expansion
U.S. threat of westward expansion
SPANISH MISSIONS The Spanish expanded the territory of
New Spain by establishing missions on the northern frontier
Purpose of these state-financed (?) missions was to spread Christianity and Spanish culture to Native Americans
MISSION’S CONTROL Missions controlled a lot of land These lands contained:
Grazed cattle Sheep Horses
Native Americans tended to these animals and did other work at the missions “under conditions of near slavery”
INFOGRAPHIC PAGE 261
MISSION’S DECLINE By 1800’s mission system was in decline
Little financial support during the struggle for independence
Many Mexicans believed that state –sponsored religious institutions was inappropriate for a republic
1834-Mexico’s government secularized –transferred power from religious to civil (government)control
Land then went to private owners
The goal of the reformers was to divide mission lands up and give them to Native Americans
However, most lands ended up in the hands of cattle ranchers who relied on Native Americans for labor
FORTS Frontier presidios (forts) became weak
due to labor shortages & reduced funding
This left frontier settlers vulnerable to attack
CALIFORNIA Secularization of the missions- freed up
land for cattle ranching, which became the main money maker
Rancheros or ranchers- owned a lot of land These white Spanish “Dons” and their
families made up 10% of California’s population
However, they controlled California society
MIDDLE CLASS Beneath these Elites was a class of
mestizos Mestizo- persons of mixed European
and Native American ancestry Some were “vaqueros” (cowboys) Many were skilled craftspeople
THE NATIVE AMERICANS At the bottom of society Suffered high mortality rates under the
Spanish rule Often exploited by the new class of
rancheros Many escaped to live on the edges of
California’s frontier to live with independent Native Americans
MEN’S ROLE In California men played a powerful role
in the family Only men could vote or hold elective
office
WOMEN’S ROLE Women, especially upper-class women
had some rights and privileges as well Unlike American women of the era,
Hispanic women retained control over their own property after marriage and could seek legal redress from the courts
NEW MEXICO New Mexico included present day
Arizona Did not change much immediately after
Mexico’s independence Remained rural Sheep ranching thrived in dry climate
NEW MEXICO ATTACKED 1820’s Navajo and Apache launched a series
of attacks on New Mexico The Mexican Government was unable to
provide protection This continued a growing dissatisfaction with
the national government 1837, Pueblo people and hispanic settlers
North of Santa Fe rebelled Killed the unpopular territorial governor 16 other government officials killed
AMERICAN INFLUENCE After Mexican independence American
influence in these territories increased Immigration increased Trade increased
Traders from U.S., Russia and other countries arrived in California ports to exchange manufactured goods for sea otter skins and hides and tallow (?) derived from cattle
TALLOW- A HARD FATTY SUBSTANCE MADE FROM RENDERED ANIMAL FAT, USED IN MAKING CANDLES AND SOAP
SETTLERS Governor of CA Juan Bautista Alvarado
- hoping to attract settlers granted 50,000 acres to John Sutter (A German Immigrant)
Sutter built a trading post and cattle ranch Sutter’s Fort
More settlers arrived- differences between CA and Mexico increased
Tension between Mexican National government and territorial governments
Still only 700 Americans at this time (1845)
SANTA FE TRAIL William Becknell opened this trail
Connected Independence , Missouri to Santa FeAmerican Manufactured goods in exchange silver, mules, and furs
TEXAS Buffer zone between Mexico and the
U.S. Texas Sparsely (lightly) populated Settlers faced recurring raids from
Comanche and Apache Native Americans
Most of the 2,500 Spanish speaking Tejanos in towns like San Antonio and Goliad
Americans began to flood the territory
REVOLT Decision by Mexican government to
allow Americans to settle their ultimately led to revolt against Mexican rule
Independence for Texas New Mexico and California remained
Mexican territory for 25 years Texas where Americans soon
outnumbered Tejanos broke away after 15 years
INDEPENDENCE FOR TEXAS Unable to persuade its own citizens to settle their Mexico continued policy of letting foreigners
settle there 1823-1825 Mexico passed three colonization laws
–offered cheap land to anyone who came to Texas Last law gave a 10 year tax exemption
but required foreigners to become Mexican citizens, abide by Mexican law, and convert to Roman Catholicism
EMPRESARIOS & SETTLERS Empresarios- “agents” &“contractors” National Colonization Act-Mexico gave
26 empresarios large amounts of Texas land In exchange emprasarios promised to fill
the land with a certain number of settlers Empresarios governed these colonies they
established
STEPHEN AUSTIN Most successful empresario Founded the town Washington-on-the-
Brazos By mid1830’s persuaded 1,500 American
families to immigrate
AMERICANIZING TEXAS Americans accepted Mexican
citizenship at first However, the Mexican government
thought American citizens would adopt Mexican customs and see Mexico as their country –but few did
Many Mexicans distrusted the settlers because of this
BENJAMIN EDWARDS Brother of empresario Haden Edwards
led a rebellion against Mexican authority Disputed regional control over who
controlled the region Mexico or the empresarios
Edwards declared that the settlements of Americans in Texas now constituted the independent nation of Fredonia
The rebellion dispersed when Mexican troops threatened however
MEXICO’S REACTION Most settlers ignored Edward’s call for
rebellion However, Mexican government feared
it signaled an American plot to acquire Texas Closed their borders to further American
immigration and banned importing slave labor
Also taxed goods on imports from foreign countries
Hoping to discourage trade with the U.S.
SETTLER’S REACTION Furious! Mexican government making rules for
them Making goods more expensive Saw no need to obey a government they
hardly considered their own
TEXAS GOES TO WAR Tensions existing- settlers met at 2 conventions
in town of San Felipe 1832 & 1833 At first convention settlers chose Stephen
Austin convention’s president 1st convention asked Mexico to reopen its
borders to American immigrants and loosen taxes on imports
2nd convention recommended separating Texas from Coahuila and creating a new Mexican state
CAUSES OF WAR Convention sent Stephen Austin to
negotiate with the Mexican Government Visited Mexican president Antonio Lopez de
Santa Anna got him to agree to some demands
While returning home he was arrested Taken to Mexico city jailed for treason
President Santa Anna denounced Mexico’s constitution and declared himself Dictator
Austin urged Texans to organize army and they did
EARLY BATTLES Mexican army serious problems
Political instability in Mexico denied the army sound leadership, training and support
Texan army first victory –Mexican force demanded surrender but had no authority to attack so they retreated rebels (Texans) followed and attacked (Decmeber 1835)
March 2, 1836 Texas declared independence drafted a new constitution derived from U.S. and protected slavery
THE ALAMO Former governor of Tennessee Sam Houston
became Texans military leader Meantime Santa Anna organized 6,000 men to
crush rebels When Santa Anna’s forced got to San Antonio
they found 180+ Texas rebels holed up in an abandoned Catholic mission called the “Alamo” Under command of William B. Travis small force
wanted to delay Santa Anna’s army so Houston’s army could prepare
Called for reinforcements
SAM HOUSTON
WILLIAM B. TRAVIS
ALAMO Call went largely unanswered- only 32 settlers
came from Gonzales Texans held off Santa Anna’s men for 13 days This was when Texas government official
declared independence (March 6, 1836) When Santa Anna’s men stormed the Alamo
they still fought them off for 6 hours killing 600 of Anna’s men before being overrun
Defenders of the Alamo bought Houston’s men nearly 2 weeks
GOLIAD
GOLIAD 2 weeks after the Alamo Texan troops led by James W. Fannin Surrendered- hoping the Mexicans would disarm
them and expel them from Texas Fannin appealed to Santa Anna for clemency (leniency) Santa Anna demanded execution Firing squad executed 300 men
The losses at Alamo and Goliad devastated Texans but also united them in support of their new country
THE BATTLE OF SAN JACINTO Texan army in disarray
Sam Houston needed more time to recruit new members
Rather fight he chose to retreat to buy more time
Waited for Santa Anna to make a mistake Mistake occurred April 21 when both armies
were encamped by the San Jacinto River near present day Houston (named for Sam Houston)
SANTA ANNA’S MISTAKE No longer saw the Texas army as a
threat So he let his men sleep in the afternoon Confident the Texans would wait until the
next day to attack Texans were hungry for revenge Soldiers convinced the officers Snuck up a hill and crept up on Santa
Anna’s sleeping soldiers
The surprise attack threw Santa Anna’s men into a panic
Battle of San Jacinto lasted 20 minutes altough killing went on for hours
The troops shouted “Remember the Alamo” and “Remember Goliad”
Attacked with knives, guns, and clubs Hundreds killed 700 taken prisoner Texans only suffered 9 killed and 34 wounded
Among those captured was Santa Anna Houston forced Santa Anna to order his
men out of the country and sign a treaty recognizing the independence of Texas
The Mexican congress refused to accept the treaty but did not launch another military campaign
Texas Won
THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS September 1836 newly independent
republic held first elections- Sam Houston was elected president Also voted 3,277 to 91 in favor of
annexation-becoming part of the United States
Many Northern Congressmen opposed admitting Texas as a slave state
SAM HOUSTON
JACKSON’S REACTION
JACKSON’S REACTION Did not want to increase tensions
between the North and South Nor risk a costly war with Mexico (who
still claimed ownership of Texas) Jackson made no moves toward
annexation Last day in office he signed a document
recognizing Texas as an independent nation
SECTION 4 THE WAR WITH MEXICO 1844-control of Oregon and annexation of Texas
had become major political issues Territorial disputes between the U.S. and Mexico
dated back to 1803 U.S. claimed Texas as part of Louisiana Purchase 1819- U.S. took back the claim in the Adams-
Onis Treaty of 1819 The idea of manifest destiny and of acquiring
some Mexican territories had strong popular support
JOHN TYLER Tyler wanted to bring Texas into the
union Anti-slavery leaders were against this
They knew most Texans favored slavery This would upset the balance between free
and slave states
TEXAS AND OREGON ENTER THE UNION Tyler-Spearheaded a campaign for
annexation of Texas Brought issue before the Senate but made
the crucial mistake of including letters written by John C. Calhoun (Secretary of State) that fiercely defended slavery Anti-slavery Northerners called annexation of
Texas a pro-slavery plot 35-16 Senate voted against annexation
ELECTION OF 1844 Front runners (nomination)- Whig
Senator Henry Clay and former Democratic President Martin Van Buren
Van Buren’s indecision cost him the nomination
Democrats instead chose James K. Polk
ELECTION 1844 FRONTRUNNERS
JAMES POLK
JAMES K. POLK Polk promised to annex Texas and
Oregon territory in the Northwest Also vowed to buy California from Mexico
This appealed to both North and South Expanded the country Maintained delicate balance between free
and slave states
HENRY CLAY Backpedaled
Now supported annexation of Texas as long as conflict was avoided with Mexico
Angered anti-slavery members of his Whig Party.
Many Whigs supported the liberty party who believed in abolition
Whig votes split- causing Polk to win
THE OREGON QUESTION Polk took a strong stance on this issue Despite British claims to the region, Polk and
Democrats said that U.S. had “a clear and unquestionable” right to all Oregon territory
June 1846- U.S. and Britain were involved with separate conflicts They negotiated the Oregon Treaty
U.S. received all of Oregon south of 49 degrees north latitude and west of the Rocky Mountains except for the Southern tip of Vancouver Island
ANNEXATION OF TEXAS Texas annexed in 1845 (angered Mexico) Tensions worsened when the two sides
argued over the southwestern border of Texas Polk’s intentions with California angered
Mexico John Slidell was sent as a special envoy to
Mexico City to try to purchase California Mexico’s new president, Jose Joaquin Herrera
refused to meet him
JOSE JOAQUIN HERRERA
THE WAR WITH MEXICO Herrera’s snub ended any realistic chance
of a diplomatic solution Polk ordered troops led by General
Zachary Taylor across the Nueces River In Mexico’s view an invasion of it’s territory
Polk wanted Mexico to fire first shot to win support
Finally on May 9, 1846, Mexicans attacked Taylor’s men
Polk addressed Congress Declared the U.S. at war
Many Whigs opposed the war as yet another plot to extend slavery
May 13 Senate voted 40-2 House voted 174-14 in favor of war
Critics called it Mr. Polk’s War
3-pronged military strategy Taylor’s troops continued to move south
crossing the Rio Grande Another force to the northwest would
capture Santa Fe- important trading center and capital of New Mexico, then march west to take control of California with help of American Navy
U.S. forces would advance upon Mexico City
Ambitious plan- U.S. needed to expand its army
Congress allowed the president to call for 50,000 volunteers (73,000 enlisted)
Troops were undisciplined and unruly, less than ideal soldiers
THE FIGHTING BEGINS Taylor moved south defeated Mexican
forces at Matamoros and captured Monterrey
Meantime- Colonel Steven W. Kearney secured Santa Fe
Before war with Mexico- John C. Fremont led north Californian settlers in an uprising
Settlers had little trouble overcoming Mexican presence there
June 14, 1846 – California declared independent of Mexico Renamed Bear Flag Republic
Few weeks later the Bear Flag Republic came to an end- American Navel Forces arrived and took California for the U.S.
MEXICO CITY Polk decided to force a conclusion by
sending troops to Mexico City Polk saw General Zachary Taylor as a
potential threat to in the 1848 election So Polk eased him out of the war and
replaced him with General Winfield Scott
BLOODY TREK US troops moved south to Veracruz
won battle there and moved south toward Mexico City Fought bloody battles on the way US troops won a battle outside the gates of
Mexico City A group of city leaders finally surrendered
to General Winfield Scott unconditionally US forces formally occupied Mexico
THE PEACE TREATY Mexican leaders signed the Treaty of
Guadalupe Hidalgo Conditions:
US gained more than 500,000 square miles of territory
Rio Grande became official southern border of Texas
In exchange: US paid Mexico $15million and took over $3.25
million in debts Mexico owed to the United States citizens
CONCLUSION Oregon and former Mexican territories
under US control US dream of Manifest Destiny realized
American stretched from ocean to ocean However, the question of slavery would
lead the country into a bloody civil war The experience gained by Robert E. Lee
and Ulysses S. Grant would be used to lead Americans in battle against each other