The Mexican-American War

1. The Mexican-American War

2. The US and SpainA Dispute over Borders • In 1803, the Louisiana Purchase had set the US border with Spain at the Rio Grande River. • Spain claimed that the border was closer to San Antonio and the Sabine River. • While the two countries argued over territorial rights, American settlers entered the disputed area (known as the Tejas region) to grow cotton, sell horses to settlers in the new territories, and to trade along the Gulf Coast.

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4. Spanish Control • In 1819, to appease Spain and to purchase FL, the US relinquished all claims to the disputed Texas territory. The Tejas territory was then wholly controlled by the Spanish, who allowed more than 300 more families to move into the area to continue their business ventures.

5. Mexican Independence • In 1821, Mexico won its independence from Spain after 11 years of rebellion. The new Mexican government allowed Americans to continue to settle the Tejas territory, but under certain conditions, including:

6. Mexican Rule • Each new settler had to convert to Roman Catholicism • Meet high standards of moral character • Become a Mexican citizen • Change their names to Spanish equivalents.

7. Mexican Rule • Each were given over 4,000 acres of land. The new settlers were called Texians. The colony flourished and three years after it was started (1824), its population had grown to 18,000.

8. US interest in Mexico • As more settlers entered the Tejas region (both legally and illegally), US interest in purchasing the land increased. • Both John Q. Adams and Andrew Jackson offered to purchase the land for upwards of $5 million. • Mexico rejected both offers, and became weary of US interests in their newly freed country.

9. Friction between Mexico and the Texians • As more and more Americans populated the northern territories of Mexico, they became increasing independent. • Disillusionment with Mexican rule increased as revolutions in Mexico upset the politics of the land, settlers had no choice of religion, slavery and the sale of slaves was made illegal, tariffs were increased, and Texians had little contact (or say) in their local government.

10. Santa Anna • In 1833 Santa Anna was elected president of Mexico and declared himself dictator. Fearing the increasing presence of Americans in northern Mexico, he abolished the local militias in the northern territories and ordered all illegal immigrants out of the country.

12. Seeds of Revolution • By 1835, the Texians were threatening rebellion. • The spark that started the rebellion began when Mexican soldiers were sent to disarm the local militia units in the area, and young man was bludgeoned to death by a Mexican soldier. Under Stephen Austin, the Texians revolted.

13. Early Skirmishes • Early skirmishes took place in and around San Antonio, Gonzales, and Concepcion in 1835. • The “army” was just over 1,000 large, and was led by William Travis, Jim Bowie, Sam Houston, and others. • A Spanish mission in San Antonio had been selected as a base of operations, and was to be re-made as a fort, complete with 18 cannon. The mission was called the Alamo.

16. Mexican Response to the Rebellion • In response to the northern rebellion, Santa Anna raised an army of over 6,000 soldiers, and sent them to Texas (Tejas) to put down the revolt.

17. The Alamo • The Alamo housed approx. 200-250 men, women, and children, including Travis, Bowie, and David Crockett, a frontier legend and former Congressman from TN. Their mission was to be the first line of defense against the Mexican army as it marched towards San Antonio and the rest of the rebellion.

19. The Battle of the Alamo • Mexican troops arrived at the Alamo on February 23, 1836. They laid siege to the fort for thirteen days, and finally an assault of over 1,600 soldiers overran the fort. • Approx. 400 Mexican soldiers died during the conflict, and approx. 200 American soldiers were killed. About two dozen women and children were released.

20. Texas Independence • On April 21, 1836, under the battle cry of “Remember the Alamo”, Sam Houston and 1,000 soldiers defeated Santa Anna and his provisional army of 1,250 soldiers at San Jacinto. Santa Anna was captured, and Texas was granted its independence.

22. Unresolved Conflict • Though Texas was granted its independence, Mexico and the United States argued bitterly over the borders for the new territory for the next nine years. • The US maintained the Rio Grande River as the southern border, while Mexico claimed the Nueces River as the border. In 1845, President Polk ordered Gen. Zachary Taylor to occupy the area in question until a resolution could be found.

24. War • Claiming that the US had invaded Mexico by ordering Taylor into the area in question, the Mexican army captured an American detachment. This act of hostility prompted Polk to declare war on Mexico on May 13, 1846.

25. War • While battles were waged in Mexico in Monterrey, Buena Vista, and Veracruz, Polk also sent soldiers to occupy the territories of California and New Mexico (in anticipation of an American victory, and to squash any hopes for countries such as Great Britain to lay claim to the lands.)

26. War • US soldiers under General Winfield Scott captured Mexico City in 1847. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed February 2, 1848, ended the war and gave the US claims to TX, CA, NV, UT, CO, AZ, NM, WY. • Over 13,000 soldiers died in the conflict, though over 95% died from disease and unsanitary conditions during the war.

28. A Divided Nation? • A division between the Northern and Southern states began with the annexation of the new lands. The Northern abolitionists saw the war as an attempt by the South to broaden the appeal of slavery in the new territories, while Southerners felt that Northern opposition to the war was an attempt to stem the expansion of slavery and eventually end it.