The Mexican-American The Mexican-American WarWar

Chapter 17Chapter 17

Manifest Destiny

Many Americans believed that the United States would extend its control to the Pacific Ocean.

Believed in “manifest destiny”, the belief that the United States’ destiny was to expand to the Pacific Ocean and into Mexican territory.

Treaty of Fort Laramie

Native Americans and settlers needed each other for trade and guides.

As settlers moved west, they were often attacked by small groups of Native Americans

In 1851, Treaty of Fort Laramie was created to provide Native American nations control of the Central Plains if they agreed not to attack settlers.

Oregon Trail

Trail stretching from Independence, Missouri to Portland, Oregon.

Showed that this path, which originated with Lewis and Clark, could safely be traveled westward.

Expansion In TexasExpansion In Texas

For Americans, land represented For Americans, land represented potential income, wealth, self-potential income, wealth, self-sufficiency and freedom. Expansion sufficiency and freedom. Expansion into the western frontiers offered into the western frontiers offered opportunities for self-advancement. opportunities for self-advancement.

Nearly 4,000,000 Americans moved to Nearly 4,000,000 Americans moved to western territories between 1820 and western territories between 1820 and 1850. 1850.

Expansion In TexasExpansion In Texas

Mexico achieved its independence Mexico achieved its independence from Spain in 1821, but the country from Spain in 1821, but the country suffered terribly from the struggle suffered terribly from the struggle (economic struggles) (economic struggles)

Mexico won vast northern territories Mexico won vast northern territories with its independence from Spain. with its independence from Spain. These borderlands were under These borderlands were under populated and were not very populated and were not very productive initially productive initially

Expansion In TexasExpansion In Texas

Mexican Government offers land grants Mexican Government offers land grants to agents called empresariosto agents called empresarios

The empresarios organized land for The empresarios organized land for people to settle so that more people people to settle so that more people could comecould come

US settlers thrilled (started to call US settlers thrilled (started to call themselves Texans)themselves Texans)

Only two conditions for the land:Only two conditions for the land:A.A. Obey Mexican LawsObey Mexican Laws

B.B. Official religion Roman CatholicOfficial religion Roman Catholic

Expansion In TexasExpansion In Texas

US settlers flocked because of the US settlers flocked because of the availability of cheap landavailability of cheap land

Southern plantation owners were Southern plantation owners were excited because they thought this excited because they thought this area would soon become a slave area would soon become a slave territory and eventually a stateterritory and eventually a state

Northerners were cautious about Northerners were cautious about heading into this area still controlled heading into this area still controlled by another nation (Mexico)by another nation (Mexico)

How It StartedHow It Started

Lots of US settlers started to flock to Lots of US settlers started to flock to Texas (1835 – 1000 people a month)Texas (1835 – 1000 people a month)

Cultural differences started to Cultural differences started to conflict:conflict: More English spoken than SpanishMore English spoken than Spanish US settlers brought slaves in, but Mexico US settlers brought slaves in, but Mexico

abolished slavery in 1824abolished slavery in 1824 More Protestants than Roman CatholicsMore Protestants than Roman Catholics Texans wanted more self-governmentTexans wanted more self-government

How It StartedHow It Started

Mexico started to try to gain further Mexico started to try to gain further control by:control by: imposing heavy import taxes on goods imposing heavy import taxes on goods

coming from UScoming from US sealing the US – Texas bordersealing the US – Texas border

Intentions were good, but impractical Intentions were good, but impractical because of a lack of enforcement because of a lack of enforcement (too large of an area to govern) (too large of an area to govern)

How It StartedHow It Started

Texans wanted to move towards Texans wanted to move towards independenceindependence Not join the US right away, but to be a Not join the US right away, but to be a

separate nation (The Lone Star State)separate nation (The Lone Star State) If this happens they could:If this happens they could:

Trade freely with the USTrade freely with the US Establish their own schoolsEstablish their own schools Collect and issue their own taxesCollect and issue their own taxes

How It StartedHow It Started

Sam Houston along with Stephen Sam Houston along with Stephen Austin became the leaders of the push Austin became the leaders of the push for Texas independencefor Texas independence

Mexico did not want to give it up and a Mexico did not want to give it up and a conflict occurred at a small Spanish conflict occurred at a small Spanish mission called the Alamo in San mission called the Alamo in San Antonio.Antonio.

Santa Anna lead the force (of 4,000) Santa Anna lead the force (of 4,000) that would soon put down this uprising, that would soon put down this uprising, but history tells a different story…but history tells a different story…

Remember the AlamoRemember the Alamo

In 1835,187 In 1835,187 fighters gathered fighters gathered at the Alamo and at the Alamo and fought for 13 daysfought for 13 days

Famous individuals Famous individuals included: Davy included: Davy Crockett, Colonel Crockett, Colonel William Barrett William Barrett Travis and Sam Travis and Sam Bowie Bowie

Remember the AlamoRemember the Alamo

Santa Anna deployed his troops around the Santa Anna deployed his troops around the structure and, when his artillery arrived, structure and, when his artillery arrived, launched an intensive assault. The Texans, launched an intensive assault. The Texans, who were reinforced by 32 men on March 1, who were reinforced by 32 men on March 1, withstood the Mexicans until March 6, when withstood the Mexicans until March 6, when the enemy succeeded in breaching the the enemy succeeded in breaching the mission walls mission walls

All of the 187 defenders died during this All of the 187 defenders died during this siege, only a few women and children siege, only a few women and children survivedsurvived

This event became a rallying cry for those This event became a rallying cry for those who supported Texas Independencewho supported Texas Independence

Remember the AlamoRemember the Alamo After a victory at After a victory at

Goliad, Santa Anna Goliad, Santa Anna was surprised by was surprised by Commander Sam Commander Sam Houston at San JacintoHouston at San Jacinto

Within 18 minutes, Within 18 minutes, Houston and his men Houston and his men were able to kill 600 were able to kill 600 Mexican soldiers and Mexican soldiers and captured Santa Annacaptured Santa Anna

In exchange for his life, In exchange for his life, Santa Anna agreed to Santa Anna agreed to free Texas in the free Texas in the Treaty of VelascoTreaty of Velasco

Republic of TexasRepublic of Texas

The Lone Star Republic was born and The Lone Star Republic was born and Sam Houston became the first PresidentSam Houston became the first President

Texans wanted the US to annex Texans wanted the US to annex (incorporate) Texas as the 28(incorporate) Texas as the 28thth State, State, but slavery issues clouded the debate but slavery issues clouded the debate until President James K. Polk was until President James K. Polk was elected in 1844elected in 1844

Mexico was furious and this action lead Mexico was furious and this action lead to the Mexican American War of 1845to the Mexican American War of 1845

Major Battles BeginMajor Battles Begin Mexico and the US disagreed on the southern Mexico and the US disagreed on the southern

border of Texas:border of Texas: US recognized the Rio Grand RiverUS recognized the Rio Grand River Mexico recognized the Nueces River (farther north than Mexico recognized the Nueces River (farther north than

the Rio Grand)the Rio Grand) President Polk sent John Slidell to negotiate terms President Polk sent John Slidell to negotiate terms

with Mexicowith Mexico John Slidell wanted to:John Slidell wanted to:

Purchase the territories of California and New MexicoPurchase the territories of California and New Mexico Agree upon which river would be the border of TexasAgree upon which river would be the border of Texas

He was not seen by the Mexican GovernmentHe was not seen by the Mexican Government

Major Battles BeginMajor Battles Begin

President Polk wanted Texas either President Polk wanted Texas either way, so he ordered Zachary Taylor to way, so he ordered Zachary Taylor to occupy the Rio Grand area of the occupy the Rio Grand area of the borderborder

Mexico saw this as a violation of their Mexico saw this as a violation of their treaty they signed and opened firetreaty they signed and opened fire

Major Battles BeginMajor Battles Begin

9 Soldiers were killed and Polk called for 9 Soldiers were killed and Polk called for the American people to rise up because the American people to rise up because American blood had been spilled on American blood had been spilled on American soilAmerican soil

Public opinion was in favor of war. Public opinion was in favor of war. Congress was unsure because of slavery Congress was unsure because of slavery

and the way this incident startedand the way this incident started

But the Mexican American War begins…But the Mexican American War begins…

The Battle of Palo AltoThe Battle of Palo Alto On May 8, before Polk signed the On May 8, before Polk signed the

declaration of war, the first major declaration of war, the first major engagement of the Mexican War began. engagement of the Mexican War began. This was the Battle of Palo Alto.This was the Battle of Palo Alto.

Finally, on May 13, Polk signed a Finally, on May 13, Polk signed a declaration of war declaration of war

This battle showed the superiority of the This battle showed the superiority of the US artillery against the cavalry US artillery against the cavalry advancements of the Mexican armyadvancements of the Mexican army

Arista, the Mexican Commander, lost Arista, the Mexican Commander, lost between 250 and 400 men at Palo Alto, between 250 and 400 men at Palo Alto, double the number of American lossesdouble the number of American losses

The Capture of Vera CruzThe Capture of Vera Cruz

The vitally important Mexican port The vitally important Mexican port and stronghold of Vera Cruz fell to and stronghold of Vera Cruz fell to American forces on March 28, 1847, American forces on March 28, 1847, after a two-week siege. General after a two-week siege. General Winfield Scott, to the south of Vera Winfield Scott, to the south of Vera Cruz on March 9. Cruz on March 9.

Vera Cruz served as a vital supply Vera Cruz served as a vital supply base for Scott’s invasion of Mexico base for Scott’s invasion of Mexico and became crucial to U.S. victoryand became crucial to U.S. victory

Entrance into Mexico CityEntrance into Mexico City

The final blow to General Antonio The final blow to General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna’s defense of Lopez de Santa Anna’s defense of Mexico City came on September 13 Mexico City came on September 13 and 14 and 14

Americans killed or captured some Americans killed or captured some 3,000 Mexican troops in this close, 3,000 Mexican troops in this close, brutal, and deadly combat, while brutal, and deadly combat, while suffering 800 casualties of their own suffering 800 casualties of their own

Entrance into Mexico Entrance into Mexico CityCity

With the Americans inside the gates and in With the Americans inside the gates and in control of the roads to the south and west, control of the roads to the south and west, officials believed that their cause was lost officials believed that their cause was lost and that the capital city would soon and that the capital city would soon become a battleground become a battleground

In the early hours of September 14, In the early hours of September 14, instead of having to fight his way through instead of having to fight his way through town, Scott instead received a delegation town, Scott instead received a delegation of Mexican politicians who surrendered the of Mexican politicians who surrendered the city unconditionally city unconditionally

Entrance into Mexico Entrance into Mexico CityCity

Main IndividualsMain Individuals

Zachary TaylorZachary Taylor Lead the campaign Lead the campaign

into the disputed into the disputed area to start the wararea to start the war

Became the major Became the major hero of the Mexican-hero of the Mexican-American warAmerican war

Popular support lead Popular support lead to him being elected to him being elected President of the US President of the US for the Whig partyfor the Whig party

Main IndividualsMain Individuals

Antonio López deAntonio López de Santa AnnaSanta Anna Mexican general and Mexican general and

dictator, who dominated dictator, who dominated Mexican politics for a Mexican politics for a quarter of a centuryquarter of a century

Overthrown in 1845, he Overthrown in 1845, he was recalled the following was recalled the following year to lead the army year to lead the army against the United States against the United States in the Mexican War in the Mexican War

Outcomes of the WarOutcomes of the War

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the war, set the southern ended the war, set the southern boundary of Texas, and ceded the boundary of Texas, and ceded the Mexican territories of New Mexico Mexican territories of New Mexico and California to the United States and California to the United States

The United States paid Mexico an The United States paid Mexico an indemnity of $15 million and indemnity of $15 million and assumed over $3 million in claims assumed over $3 million in claims that U.S. citizens had against the that U.S. citizens had against the Mexican government Mexican government

Outcomes of the WarOutcomes of the War

The treaty was ratified on March 10, 1848, The treaty was ratified on March 10, 1848, by the United States and on May 19, 1848, by the United States and on May 19, 1848, by Mexico by Mexico

Mexicans living in these territories were Mexicans living in these territories were guaranteed freedom of religion, protection, guaranteed freedom of religion, protection, bilingual elections, and open bordersbilingual elections, and open borders

United States acquired more than 500,000 United States acquired more than 500,000 square miles of valuable territory and square miles of valuable territory and emerged as a world power in the late emerged as a world power in the late nineteenth century nineteenth century

Outcomes of the WarOutcomes of the War

Outcomes of the WarOutcomes of the War

Rich gold and silver deposits in Rich gold and silver deposits in California and Nevada were an California and Nevada were an unexpected surprise that greatly unexpected surprise that greatly contributed to the national economy contributed to the national economy and to the westward movement of and to the westward movement of the population the population

However, it also upset the balance However, it also upset the balance between free and slave states, which between free and slave states, which helped bring on the catastrophe of helped bring on the catastrophe of the American Civil War the American Civil War