Mexican war

1. Mexican war By: Austin Lopez Eric Birch Tyler Melvin Period 1

2. Causes of the War • United States annexes Texas • Boundary Debate • Manifest Destiny

3. Unites States Annexes Texas • After Texas gained its independence from Mexico, Texas wanted to become part of the U.S • Mexico threatens U.S, saying that if they annex Texas they are going fight. • After a few years of Texas trying to be annexed the U.S finally annexed them, which makes Mexico mad.

4. Boundary Dispute • U.S believes the boundary line should be at the Rio Grande River. • Mexico believes it should be at the Nueces River. • Not a big area of land to fight over but Mexico was mad at the U.S for the annexation of Texas so they wouldn’t give it to them.

6. Manifest Destiny • God given right to move out west • Created the want for California which Mexico owned. • Polk sent John Slidell to Mexico City to negotiate the purchase of California and New Mexico • Mexican officials refused to even meet with Slidell.

7. Start of the War • March 1846, Polk sent Zachary Taylor to lead 4,000 soldiers from the Nueces River to the Rio Grande. • April 25, 1846, Mexico soldiers cross the Rio Grande and attack group of 63 U.S soldiers, killing 11. • May 11, 1846, Polk addressed congress about the attack and asked to declare war.

8. Start of the War • "We have tried every effort at reconciliation...But now, after reiterated menaces, Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States [the Rio Grande], has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon the American soil. She has proclaimed that hostilities have commenced, and that the two nations are at war. As war exists, and, notwithstanding all our efforts to avoid it, exists by the act of Mexico herself, we are called upon by every consideration of duty and patriotism to vindicate with decision the honor, the rights, and the interests of our country."

9. Congress Declares War • Lincoln challenged the actual spot where the “American blood was spilt on America’s soil”. This was known as the spot resolution. • After Polk presented this to congress, by large majorities, they decided to declare war. • They decided on using 50,000 men and 10 million dollars for the prosecution of the war.

10. War Time • Zachary Taylor, a.k.a “Old Rough and Ready”, lead the U.S troops throughout the war. • Taylor drove the Mexicans back to the Rio Grande in the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. • Within the first 6 days of declaring war, they crossed the Rio Grande, occupying the city of “Matamoros”.

11. Battle of Buena Vista • Febuary 22-23, General Taylor fights Santa Anna south of south of Satillo. • One of the largest battles of the war • America wins. • Mexico had about four times as many men as the U.S • U.S won because of heavy artillery, and strategic tactics. • Last major battle in northern Mexico, also Taylors last battle. • His success in this battle helped him gain the presidency.

12. Battle of Cerro Gordo • April 18, 1847, Santa Anna blocked Winfield's path to Mexico City. • U.S found a side path that they used to flank Santa Anna which resulted in U.S victory • Santa Anna’s peg leg was captured by American troops and is still on display in Illinois.

13. Battle for Mexico City • Collection of battles between September 8 to September 15, 1847. • Main assault on Mexico City September 12. • Scot took Mexico City on the 12th • After capture of city, some Mexican soldiers left behind, started sniping from rooftops, severely wounding an American general and soldiers.

14. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo • Signed February 2, 1848, ends Mexican War. • Mexico gave the U.S 525,000 square miles of land (not including Texas) for 15 million dollars. • Ensure safety of pre-existing property rights of Mexican Citizens. • U.S agreed to take over 3.25 million dollars in debt that Mexico owed them.

15. Effects of War • Extends Texas boundary to Rio Grande • U.S gains California, Nevada, Utah, and more pieces of other states. • Extended American citizenship to Mexicans in new claimed American territory. • Mexicans allowed citizenship before other minorities. • Led to purchase of parts of Arizona and New Mexico called Gadsden Purchase

16. Effects of War • Additional land started new debates on the slavery issue, as many predicted. • Americans suffered large losses (13,000 deaths); 1700 in combat & remaining due to rampant disease. • Mexicans lost about 50% of their territory and provoked bad feeling towards U.S. that has never fully dissipated.

17. Effect on Manifest Destiny • New found land urges Americans to spread farther west. • Fulfills concept of Manifest Destin, giving America land from “Sea to Shining Sea.”(actually oceans)---lol

18. Timeline • March 1846-Polk sent Taylor to the Rio Grande with 4,000 soldiers. • April 25, 1846-Mexican forces attack group of American soldiers at the Rio Grande (first shots of the war) • May 1846-Polk addresses congress and they declare war. • February 23, 1847-Battle of Buena Vista. • April 18, 1847-Battle of Cerro Gordo. • September 15, 1847-Battle for Mexico City. • February 2, 1848

20. Bibliography • Mexican-American War. Retrieved October 10, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican%E2%80%93American_War • U.S Mexican War. Retrieved October 9, 2009, from http://www.pbs.org/kera/usmexicanwar/index_flash.html • The U.S Mexican War. Retrieved October 11, 2009, from http://www.dmwv.org/mexwar/history/peace.htm • The Mexican War. Retrieved October 12, 2009, from http://www.sonofthesouth.net/mexican-war/war.htm • Primary Resources. Retrieved October 8, 2009, from http://www.animatedatlas.com/mexwar/mexwarsources.html • Site Resources. Retrieved October 10, 2009, from http://www.pbs.org/kera/usmexicanwar/resources/manifest_destiny_sullivan.html