Mexican War 1846-1848

1. Mexican War 1846-1848

2. 1846 vs. 2003 1846 2003 Narrowly elected President (George W. Bush) Fighting on foreign soil, unpopular action to many people One major cause given to Congress for action was never found • Narrowly elected President (Polk) • War on foreign soil, quite unpopular in parts of the country • Cause given to Congress for war questionable

4. Mexican/American War Notes Statistics: U.S. troops: around 80,000. U.S. Generals: Zachary Taylor, Winfield Scott, Stephen Kearney. Number dead: 13,271. Wounded: 4,152. Mexican troops: 25,000-40,000. Generals: Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, Mariano Arista, Pedro de Ampudia, Jose Maria Flores. Number dead or wounded: 25,000 (Mexican government estimate). Politics: U.S. Whig party opposed it. Southern Democrats supported it. Democrats believed in the doctrine of “manifest destiny.”

7. Manifest Destiny . . . JOHN GAST‘S - "AMERICAN PROGRESS," (1872) What is happening in the Picture? What does the idea of “manifest destiny” mean to the painter?

8. Timeline of events leading to war 1821 -- Newly independent Mexico grants slaveholding U.S. settlers land in Texas. Early settlers agree to take Mexican citizenship, convert to Catholicism, and speak Spanish; but some later settlers do not. 1829-30 -- Mexico stops settlement of Texas by Americans and bans slavery 1835-36 -- Settlers rebel against Mexican rule and declare independence. Mexico does not recognize Texas independence or a boundary at the Río Grande. 1836-45 -- Texas as an independent nation is recognized by the United States, Britain, France, and the Netherlands, but not Mexico.

9. Timeline of events leading to war July 1845 -- Texans vote to join the United States. December 1845 -- Texas is annexed by the United States and becomes the twenty-eighth state.

10. Causes of the Mexican War • Manifest Destiny • Texas Annexation by the United States • Boundary dispute between Mexico and the U.S. over the boundary of Texas

11. Manifest Destiny • Belief that it was America’s God-given right and duty to expand west to the Pacific Coast

12. Texas Annexation • Texas becomes the 28th state in December of 1845. • Mexico reacts by cutting off all diplomatic ties with the U.S. • They still considered Texas to be a rebellious territory that would return to their control

13. Boundary Dispute • Texas and U.S. claim that the Rio Grande marks the southern border of Texas • Mexican government rejects this idea and argues that the real southern border is the Nueces River

14. Goals for today, 9-27-12 Analyze the causes of the Mexican American War Using your knowledge of what caused the war, argue that the outbreak of war was justified on the part of the United States, or that it was an unjust act of imperialism toward Mexico How did the idea of Manifest Destiny contribute to the outbreak of the Mexican American War?

15. Rio Grande boundary Nueces River boundary

16. Steps to War • June 1845- President Polk ordered General Zachary Taylor to take U.S. troops into disputed border region • Polk claims this action is to protect Texas from possible Mexican attack

17. Steps to War • Meanwhile, Polk sent diplomat John Slidell to Mexico City to negotiate the purchase California & New Mexico for $30 million • Mexican officials refused to meet with Slidell John Slidell

18. Steps to War • March 1846 – General Taylor’s troops made camp at the Rio Grande in disputed territory • April 1846 – Mexican commander insisted U.S. troops must leave area and Taylor refused to move • Mexican forces crossed the Rio Grande and attacked group of 63 U.S. soldiers • 11 Americans killed

19. Steps to War • May 11, 1846 – Polk addressed Congress • He declared that “Mexico has shed American blood upon the American soil.” (was this really true?) • Two days later Congress declared war on Mexico

20. Support of the War • For many Americans the war led to greater national pride (manifest destiny) • Many southerners supported the war, thinking any territory won would be organized into slave states

21. Opposition to the War • Northern abolitionists feared any territory gained in the war might be organized into slave states • Illinois Congressman Abraham Lincoln (Whig Party) wrote the “Spot Resolutions” in 1848– asking Polk (Democrat) to show the spot where American blood had been shed on American soil

22. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) • Forced on Santa Anna and Mexico • Southern boundary of Texas set at the Rio Grande • U.S. gained: • Present-day states of California, Nevada, and Utah • Most of Arizona and New Mexico • Parts of Colorado and Wyoming • U.S. agreed to pay $15 million to Mexico

23. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo 1848 (Cont) Mexico lost ½ her nation. In return, Mexico received $15,000,000 -- less than half the amount the U.S. had attempted to offer Mexico for the land before the opening of hostilities. Tremendous amount of wealth from natural resources generated from those states (California Gold Rush!).

25. Rules for debate • Each person will WRITE OUT a 1 paragraph opening statement supporting his/her side in regard to the war • You MUST include & explain 4 reasons from your list to back up your point • 1 debater from each side will be chosen at random and will come to the front of the room – each side will read opening remark • The floor will be open for discussion for 1 minute, with each side needing to make at least 2 arguments during this time