Mexican-American War

1. Mexican-American War 1846-1848

2. Causes of the War • Texas was annexed by the United States on December 29, 1845. Many Mexicans were afraid this was just the first step in the United States taking over all of Mexico. • Texas and Mexico were still fighting over the boundaries when the United States annexed Texas. • Mexico claimed the Nueces River as the boundary. • Texas and the United States claimed the Rio Grande as the boundary.

3. Causes of the War • Man U.S. citizens wanted to be repaid for damage done to their businesses and property in Mexico. • U.S. leaders were angry when Mexico ordered all U.S. settlers to leave the Mexican territory of California. • President James K. Polk sent John Slidell to Mexico to try to buy New Mexico and California. • Mexico officials refused to meet with him.

4. Fighting Starts • President Polk sent General Zachary Taylor to the Rio Grande to protect the U.S. border. • General Taylor and 1,000 troops arrived at the Rio Grande in March 1846. • There was a Mexican camp on the other side of the river. • General Taylor ordered his men to build a fort along the river by present-day Brownsville.

6. The President and the General President James K. Polk General Zachary Taylor

7. Fighting Starts • In April the Mexican General sent a note to General Taylor and ordered him to “return to the east bank of the Nueces River”. • Taylor refused. • On April 25 a force of 1,600 Mexican cavalry crossed the Rio Grande and attacked. • Most U.S. soldiers were captured, but 11 were killed and 5 were wounded. • The next day General Taylor sent word to Washington that the fighting had begun.

8. Call for War • When President Polk heard about this he went to Congress and asked them to declare war on Mexico. • Debate in the Congress -“American blood has been spilt on American soil!” -“American blood has been spilt on a Mexican corn field.” –Abraham Lincoln Congress declared war on May 13, 1846

9. Abraham Lincoln in 1846

10. More Fighting • Before news of the declaration of war more fighting occurred. • May 8-9, 1846 – General Mariano Arista attacked at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma (both on north side of the Rio Grande). • The United States Army won both battles.

11. Texans in the War • When fighting broke out 6,000 Texans volunteered to join the army. • Many Texans wanted the chance to fight their old rival again – Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. • Texas Governor James P. Henderson temporarily left office to join and lead Texas forces. • Former Texas President Mirabeau B. Lamar joined. • Texas Revolutionary, Juan Seguín, was forced to join the Mexican army.

12. Texans in the War James P. Henderson Mirabeau B. Lamar Juan Seguín Texas Governor 1845-1847 2nd Texas President 1838-1841 Texas Revolutionary

13. Texas Rangers in the War • Several Rangers, including Rip Ford and John Coffee Hays, joined the U.S. Army. -They were scouts for the army. • Some Rangers caused problems -They wouldn’t follow orders. -They also attacked Mexican towns. • General Taylor threatened to throw all the Rangers in jail. • Many Mexican feared them. -They called them Los Diablos Tejanos (“The Texas Devils”).

14. Texas Rangers in the War

15. Texas Rangers in the War

16. U.S. Victory • After winning battles in Texas, General Taylor began an offensive – a major troop advance – into northern Mexico. • U.S. forces won two major battles at Monterrey and Buena Vista. • At Buena Vista Santa Anna was in command of the Mexican forces and he demanded a surrender from General Taylor.

17. U.S. Victory • Officer Thomas L. Crittenden simply replied, “General Taylor never surrenders.” • After two days Santa Anna’s forces retreated.

18. New Battle Plan • General Winfield Scott began a new strategy in the fall of 1846 • Troops would land at Veracruz and march west to attack Mexico City • President Polk liked his idea so much he gave General Scott 9,000 of General Taylor’s men

19. Plan in Action • March 1847 Scott’s troops landed near Veracruz • By mid-September they had captured Mexico City • Scott won the battles of Veracruz, Cerro Gordo, Contreras/Padierna, Buena Vista, and Molino del Rey, then assaulted the fort of Chapultepec which surrendered on September 13, 1847. • Other U.S. forces had taken control of California and parts of New Mexico

21. The Cost of War • Major fighting ended on September 14, 1847 when U.S. troops raised the American flag over the National Palace in Mexico City • Of the 116,000 U.S. soldiers 13,000 died • Many of those died from disease • More than 60 Texans died in battle and 270 died from disease or accidents • The war with Mexico cost America $98 million

22. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo • After the capture of Mexico City U.S. diplomat, Nicholas Trist, met with Mexico’s acting president in the city of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Nicholas Trist – U.S. diplomat

23. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo • Ended the Mexican War • Signed on February 2, 1848 • Mexico recognized the annexation of Texas • Mexico recognized the Rio Grande as the border • United States agreed to pay the $3.25 million in claims of the U.S. Citizens had against Mexico

24. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo • As part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo Mexico agreed to cede, or give up, some 529,000 square miles of its northern land to the U.S. for $15 million • This is known as the Mexican Cession

25. Problems in America • After the Mexican War debates over slavery started • Pro-slavery wanted to allow slavery in the new territories • Anti-slavery didn’t want to allow slavery in the new territories • Texas and New Mexico started to fight over boundaries

26. Compromise of 1850 • In 1850 Senator Henry Clay came up with a plan • The federal government would pay Texas $10 million dollars to give up its claim to New Mexico • The state needed the money to pay bills left over from the Republic of Texas so they agreed • Also the plan said that no territories above the 30th parallel could be a slave state

27. Compromise of 1850