Mexican – American WarMexican – American War

The Final Chapter in Manifest Destiny

Ch. 9 Sect. 3/4

Texas and the Southwest Texas and the Southwest Mexican Independence (1821) opened

the door for settlers and traders to move into Mexican territories.

Mission System◦Under this Spanish system, only a few thousand

Mexican settlers in present-day Texas◦Spanish used Roman Catholic missions to

convert Native Americans◦Mexico offers mission lands to government

officials, ranchers

Impact of Mexican Independence◦Mexico Encourages trade between US and

Northern provinces◦Native American groups threaten scattered

Mexican settlementsMexico Invites U.S. Settlers

◦To protect the territory, Mexico encourages US farmers to go to Texas

◦Offers land grants to empresarios (agents) who sell land cheaply

◦Until 1830’s, Anglo settlers live as naturalized Mexican citizens

Austin in Texas◦ Stephan F. Austin,

successful empresario, establishes colony in 1821

◦ “Old 300” get 177 farming acres or 4,428 grazing acres! (That’s a lot…)

◦ US wants lands south to Rio Grande; Mexico refuses to sell Texas

Texas Fights for Independence “Come to Texas”

◦Cultural differences arise between Anglos and Mexico: Anglos speak English, not Spanish Southerners bring slaves (outlawed in Mexico)

◦1830’s – Anglos greatly outnumber Tejanos◦Mexican President Antonio Lopez de Santa

Anna imprisons Austin Revokes local powers; rebellions erupt, including

Texas Revolution

“Remember the Alamo!”◦Santa Anna marches army to Texas; Austin tells

Texans to arm themselves◦Santa Anna storms Alamo (old mission); all 187

defenders were killed

Fall of the Alamo- Robert Jenkins 1903

The Lone Star Republic◦Sam Houston defeats, captures Santa Anna at

Battle of San Jacinto◦Treaty of Velasco grants independence to Texas

(April 1836)◦Houston becomes President of the Republic of

Texas Texas Joins the Union

◦1838, Houston invites US to annex, or incorporate, Texas

◦South favors, North opposes annexation; Texas becomes state in 1845

The War with MexicoThe War with MexicoTensions over the US annexation of Texas

leads to war with Mexico, resulting in huge territorial gains for the US.

Polk Urges WarPolk Urges War““Polk the Purposeful”Polk the Purposeful”

◦ Pres. James K. Polk favors war with MexicoPres. James K. Polk favors war with Mexico Believes US will get Texas, New Mexico, CaliforniaBelieves US will get Texas, New Mexico, California

Slidell’s RejectionsSlidell’s Rejections◦ Polk sends John Slidell to buy SW, negotiate Texas Polk sends John Slidell to buy SW, negotiate Texas

bordersborders◦ Santa Anna ousted; Mexican govt. unstable, ignores Santa Anna ousted; Mexican govt. unstable, ignores

SlidellSlidell◦ Polk orders Gen. Zachary Taylor to blockade the Rio Polk orders Gen. Zachary Taylor to blockade the Rio

GrandeGrande

Sectional Attitudes Toward War◦South favors war to extend slavery, increase

power in Congress (remember the Missouri Compromise of 1820??)

◦North opposes, fears spread of slavery and southern control of US

The War BeginsPolk Provokes War

◦US repeatedly violates Mexico’s territorial rights◦Mexican, US soldiers skirmish near Matamoros;

9 American killed◦Polk sends war message to Congress, withholds

facts◦Congress approves war, stifles opposition

Kearny Marches West ◦Polk orders Col. Stephen Kearny to march to

Santa Fe◦N. Mexico surrenders without a fight

Republic of California◦1830’s – 12,000 Mexican settlers in California;

1840’s, 500 Americans ◦John C. Frémont proclaims Republic of California

in 1846◦Frémont joined by Kearny and Commodore John

D. Sloat’s naval expedition

The War in Mexico◦US has many victories; Mexican troops have poor

leaders ◦ Invasion of Mexico led by Gen. Zachary Taylor,

Winfield Scott◦Polk helps Santa Anna regain power (what?), but

fights US (duh!)America Gains the Spoils of WarTreaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo

◦US/Mexico sign treaty in 1848 Texas border set at Rio Grande Mexico ceded western lands for $15 million Guarantees rights of Mexicans living in territories

◦War enlarges US territory by 1/3 ◦Franklin Pierce authorizes 1853 Gadsden Purchase,

sets final border

Taylor’s Election in 1848 ◦Democrats split over slavery issue◦Whig’s nominee, war hero Zachary Taylor wins

easily

Eureka!!!Eureka!!!

The California Gold RushThe Rush Begins

◦1848 – Gold found at Sutter’s mill in CA Sierra Nevadas

◦San Francisco residents abandon city to pan for gold ◦Gold rush, or migration of prospectors to California

in 1849◦49ers, gold prospectors, come from Asia, S.

America, EuropeImpact of Gold Fever

◦San Francisco become supply center for miners; becomes major port

Gold Rush Brings Diversity◦1849 – CA pop. Exceeds 100,000 ◦Chinese, free blacks, Mexicans migrate

in large numbers ◦Slavery permitted until 1849

constitutional convention◦CA joins union in 1850