Texas Independence / Mexican-America War

• Main Idea – • Texan’s desire to gain Independence from Mexico

leads to political tensions and eventually conflict. • The Republic of Texas provides the USA an

opportunity to expand. Political considerations lead to the USA annexing the Republics of California & Texas as war with Mexico breaks out.

• Key Terms & People – • Alamo, Goliad, San Jacinto, Treaty of Velasco, Zachary

Taylor, John Fremont, Winfield Scott, Stephen Austin, Santa Anna, Sam Houston, Rio Grande

Mexican - American WarBackground events

• Early 1800s – Spain encouraging Americans to colonize Mexico’s northern territory called

Coahuila y Tejas– Buffer against USA expansion and Indian attacks

• 1821– Mexico gains independence from Spain

• Mid 1830s– American population in Tejas > Mexican population of Tejas– Oath of loyalty to Mexico?– Stephen Austin wants Mexican statehood for Tejas. Santa Anna says NO.

• 1835 – 1836– Texas War of Independence

The Alamo

• Jan 1836 - Santa Anna moves against Texas rebels

• The Alamo - Catholic Mission in San Antonio

• Feb 25 - Santa Anna enters San Antonio

• 187 defenders are inside the Alamo– Jim Bowie, Davey Crockett,

William Travis

• Mexican Army’s bombardment breeches the walls and takes the Alamo in 90 minutes

• All survivors are executed

“Remember the Alamo!!!!”

• March 27th - “Goliad Massacre”• Sam Houston raises an army to

confront Santa Anna near San Jacinto River

• Outnumbered 2 -1, Houston attacks

• Texans win, over in 18 minutes• Texas independence by Treaty of

Velasco

Timeline

• Texas wants US to annex them• Pres Polk and Congress not too willing• Britain and France show interest

• July 1845 - Polk sends Gen Zachary Taylor to Corpus Christi with 1500 men• Negotiations to determine border• Feb 1846 - Taylor moves to Rio Grande• April 1846 - Mexico invades Texas• May 13th - Mexico declares war

…From the Halls of Montezuma…• Early Aug ‘47 Gen Winfield

Scott less than 15 miles away

• Capt Robert E. Lee finds route to surprise Mexicans

• Santa Anna requests peace talks

• Two week negotiations• Sept 8, 1847

– 8000 defenders vs 15,000 - Americans attack

– Battle of Chapultepec Castle on 8th

– Sept 14th Mexico surrenders

Meanwhile out West in California

• 1845 US tries to buy CA $25MM– Mexico refuses to consider offer

• US urges colonists in CA to request annexation

• US Army officer John C. Fremont leads rebellion – Bear Flag Republic

• Rebellion lasts less than 2 months• July 1846 US Navy takes

Monterey - claims California for city for USA

• Capture San Diego Los Angeles, Santa Barbara

Why a grizzly bear? Some historians say the choice was made to enrage and intimidate the Californios, who feared the grizzly more than any other predator. Others accounts say the mountain men favored the grizzly because it was the fiercest and most determined fighter in the animal kingdom

Politics….• Manifest Destiny – Magazine Article July

1845–…”It is our manifest destiny to overspread

and possess the whole of the continent which Providence has given use for the development of the greatest experiment of liberty and self-government entrusted to us” – In line with 1844 Democratic Party

platform

Dec 2 1845 – Message to Congress reaffirming the Monroe Doctrine

• “…The rapid extension of our settlements over our territories heretofore unoccupied, the addition of new States to our Confederacy, the expansion of free principles, and our rising greatness as a nation are attracting the attention of the powers of Europe, and lately the doctrine has been broached in some of them of a "balance of power" on this continent to check our advancement. The United States, sincerely desirous of preserving relations of good understanding with all nations, can not in silence permit any European interference on the North American continent, and should any such interference be attempted will be ready to resist it at any and all hazards…”

• “…The American system of government is entirely different from that of Europe. Jealousy among the different sovereigns of Europe, lest any one of them might become too powerful for the rest, has caused them anxiously to desire the establishment of what they term the "balance of power." It can not be permitted to have any application on the North American continent, and especially to the United States. We must ever maintain the principle that the people of this continent alone have the right to decide their own destiny. Should any portion of them, constituting an independent state, propose to unite themselves with our Confederacy, this will be a question for them and us to determine without any foreign interposition. We can never consent that European powers shall interfere to prevent such a union because it might disturb the "balance of power" which they may desire to maintain upon this continent. “