SouthwestwSouthwestward ard

MovementMovement

Problems in the SWProblems in the SW

• Mexico owned all of the land in the Southwest

• Mexico would not be easily defeated like the Native Americans

Texas War for IndependenceTexas War for Independence

• Texas was full of Americans who wanted to be free from Mexico

• They started a war for freedom

AlamoAlamo

• A couple of hundred Texans fought against 10,000 Mexican Troops

• They caused heavy casualties but were captured by Mexican troops

Remember the AlamoRemember the Alamo

• The captured soldiers were executed two weeks later

• Inspired by the Alamo, Texans defeated Mexico and became independent in 1836

Texas War for IndependenceTexas War for Independence

• Texas reluctantly joined US for protection from Mexico

Mexican War 1846 - 1848Mexican War 1846 - 1848

• After US annexed Texas, Mexico and US went to war over the southern border of Texas

• US wanted to claim more land than Texas in SW

Mexican War 1846 - 1848Mexican War 1846 - 1848

• US dominated the war

• War ended when US forces captured Mexican capital

Treaty of Guadalupe-HildagoTreaty of Guadalupe-Hildago

• Mexico recognized Rio Grande River as Southern border of Texas

• Mexico gave US claims to New Mexico and California territories

• US paid Mexico 15 million dollars for all this land

Gadsden PurchaseGadsden Purchase

• Mexico sold 30,000 square miles of land (Arizona and southern New Mexico) to US for 10 million dollars

• US needed land for railroads to travel through SW territories

Gadsden PurchaseGadsden Purchase