Download Mexican American War

Manifest Destiny and
the Mexican War
I. The Roots of Manifest
Destiny
A. By the 1840’s many
Americans were sure
the U.S. would
expand all the way to
the Pacific. They
believed that nothing
could stop this growth
from taking place.
1. This expansionists
view became known
as Manifest Destiny,
and this term was first
used by John
O’Sullivan, a New
York Editor.
2. “The American claim is by the right of our
Manifest Destiny to overspread and to
possess the whole of the continent which
Providence (God’s Blessing) has given us
for the development of the great
experiment of liberty. We are the nation of
human progress, and who will, what can,
set limits to our onward march” - John
O’Sullivan
B. The roots of manifest
destiny lay in
America’s economic,
political, and social
experiences.
1. Many Puritan
colonists believed
North America was a
promised land that
God had given them
to set up a new
society.
a. Become a religious
example to the rest
of the world.
2. The American
Revolution added to
the idea that America
was special. Patriots
believed that the
United States would
prove to the rest of
the world that
democracy could
work in a large and
growing country.
3. After the United
States became
independent, there
were strong
economic reasons to
expand.
a. As the eastern
population grew,
people sought more
room.
b. Farmers wanted
more land to grow
crops, and industry
needed more natural
resources.
c. Businesses wanted
more markets for
American goods.
II. War Breaks Out
A. Texas became the
28th state in
December 1845. This
action angered the
Mexican government,
which considered
Texas a “stolen
province.”
Mexico cut off all
diplomatic ties with
the U.S.
2. Mexico ordered
Americans to leave
California and
banned further
immigration there.
3. Mexico continued to
argue that the
Nueces River, not
the Rio Grande
made up Texas’
southern border
1.
B. In June 1845,
President Polk
ordered General
Zachary Taylor to
take the U.S. troops
into the disputed area
between the Nueces
and Rio Grande.
1. Polk also offered
Mexico $30 million for
California and New
Mexico, but Mexico
refused.
C. After General Taylor
refused to move
away from the Rio
Grande, Mexican
soldiers attacked a
group of 63 U.S.
soldiers.
1. 11 were killed, 5
were wounded, and
the rest captured.
2. Polk declared:
“Mexico has shed
American blood
upon American soil.”
3. 2 days later,
Congress declared
war on Mexico.
III. Responses to the War
A. To raise an army, the
U.S. called 50,000
volunteers, but over
200,000 people
volunteered. This was
the first U.S. war
fought mainly on
foreign soil.
First time many
newspapers covered
a U.S. conflict.
2. First war to be
photographed.
1.
B. Many people were
opposed to the war.
Many in the Whig
Party thought that the
conflict was
unjustified and
unnecessary.
1. Northern abolitionists
opposed the war b/c
they feared the
spread of slavery.
2. Some believed that
disagreements over
the Mexican War
would further divide
Americans.
a.
“The United States
will conquer Mexico,
but it will be as the
man swallows the
arsenic (a poison),
which brings him
down in turn. Mexico
will poison us.”
- Ralph Waldo
Emerson
IV. American Victories
General Zachary
Taylor won battles at
the Nueces River,
Palo Alto, and
Resaca de la Palma.
Taylor’s victories
drove the Mexican
troops back into
Mexico.
1. Taylor then crossed
the Rio Grande
River.
A.
B. Brigadier General
Stephen Kearny
attacked New Mexico,
and took Santa Fe
without a fight.
1. Kearny then marched
towards southern
California.
C. American rebels near 3. U.S. forces took over
Sonoma, California
San Diego, Los
rebelled and
Angeles, and San
declared California
Francisco
an independent
4. 1847 - President Polk
republic.
named General
1. John Fremont
Kearny governor.
played a major role.
2. Nicknamed the Bear
Flag Republic.
D. Zachary Taylor (“Old
Rough and Ready”)
was having massive
success, and Polk
feared he may run
for President in
1848.
1. Replaced Taylor
with Winfield Scott
“Old Fuss and
Feathers”
2. Scott captured
Mexico City on
9/14/1847.
V. More New Territories
A.
1.
2.
Treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo
Turned over much of
Mexico’s northern
territory to the U.S.
The Mexican Cession
included the states of
California, Nevada, and
Utah, and parts of
Arizona, New Mexico,
Colorado, and Wyoming
3. Increased the size of
the U.S. by 25%
4. U.S. paid $15 million.
B. Gadsden Purchase
U.S. pays $10
million for the
southern parts of
New Mexico and
Arizona.
2. The continental
boundaries of the
U.S. were finally
fixed.
1.