TX History Ch 16.1

Chapter 16: Western Expansion and Conflict

Section 1: The Mexican War

Fighting Breaks Out

•1845: Mexicans angry about annexation and signing of the Texas admission Act

•Mexicans feared U.S. expansion

Fighting Breaks Out

• Mexico claimed the Nueces River separated Texas and Mexico

• U.S. citizens wanted paid for damages

Fighting Breaks Out

• Expulsion of U.S. settlers from California

• November 1845: Mexico refuses to meet with U.S. diplomat John Slidell

John Slidell

Fighting Breaks Out

•President Polk ordered General Zachary Taylor and thousands of U.S. troops into Texas

President James K. Polk

Fighting Breaks Out

•Zachary Taylor—commander of U.S. forces in Texas when the Mexican War began

Zachary Taylor

Fighting Breaks Out

•Late March 1846: arrives along Rio Grande and discovers Mexican troops encamped across river

•Early April 1846: Mexican general orders Taylor to return east of the Nueces

Fighting Breaks Out

• April 25, 1846: First action of war takes place when Mexican forces crossed the Rio Grande and attacked U.S. troops in Texas

• Polk: “American blood has been shed on American soil"

Fighting Breaks Out

•May 13, 1846: Congress declares war on Mexico

•May 8-9, 1846: Taylor had already defeated the Mexicans in two battles

Texans in the Mexican War

• Santa Anna was leader of the Mexican forces during the war

• Some 6,000 Texans volunteered for the war

Antonio López de Santa Anna

Texans in the Mexican War

Gov. James Pinckney Henderson temporarily left

office to fight in the war

Texans in the Mexican War

•Texas Revolution veteran Juan Seguín fled to Mexico and was forced to fight in the Mexican Army

Juan Seguín

Texans in the Mexican War

Famous Texas Rangers that fought in the Mexican War

John “Rip” Ford John Coffee Hays

Texans in the Mexican War

•Refused to follow orders from U.S. Army officers

•Attacked Mexican villages

•Los diablos Tejanos

A U.S. Victory

•Offensive—a major troop advance

•Santa Anna demanded surrender

•Victories at Buena Vista & Monterrey

A U.S. Victory

• General Winfield Scott’s strategy: landing forces in Monterrey and marching them inland to Mexico City

General Winfield Scott

A U.S. Victory

• General Scott: captured Mexico City

• Other U.S. forces captured New Mexico & California

• The war ended when Mexico City was captured by U.S. troops.

A U.S. Victory

•13,000 American troops lost their lives

•Most U.S. soldiers died from disease

•War cost the U.S. $98 million