Download Section Two - Coppell ISD

Texas History
Fort Burrows
10.2 - War With Mexico – Spring 1846
When James Polk ran for President in
1844, he promised to make the United
States larger. Bringing Texas into the
Union was the first step. Polk and his
supporters wanted to do more. They
wanted a country to stretch to the Pacific
Ocean. Much of the land in the West, was
owned by Mexico. This could lead to a
fight. There was another possible conflict
with Mexico. Polk thought the Rio
Grande was the border between Mexico
and Texas, Mexicans thought it was the
Nueces River.
Polk sent an official to Mexico. He
offered to buy California, but Mexico
refused to even meet with him. Polk
realized that Mexico would not give up its
land without a fight. He sent soldiers to
the Rio Grande.
The Mexican government saw this as an
invasion. It sent soldiers of its own. The
two sides fought a small battle. Polk said
the Mexicans had invaded American soil.
He convinced the U.S. Congress to declare
war on Mexico in May 1846.
About 5,000 Texans fought in the
Mexican-American War. They helped the
United States win. In 1848, the two
countries signed the Treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo. Mexico agreed that Texas was
part of the United States. It also accepted
the Rio Grande as the border. Finally,
Mexico gave up large amounts of land.
All or part of what is now Arizona,
California, Colorado, New Mexico,
Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming became part
of the United States. The United States
paid Mexico $15 Million for this land.
Vocabulary:
manifest destiny – US had the right and the duty to expand to the Pacific Ocean
cession – the granting of land (giving) from one country to another
The Road to War with Mexico
§ in 1844, President Polk believed that the United States had the right and duty to
expand to the Pacific Ocean (manifest destiny)
¿ wanted to Annex Texas, he did so in 1845
¿ interested in the land between Texas and the Pacific Ocean
§ he wanted to fix the southern boundary of Texas at the Rio Grande but Mexico
disagreed.
§ Polk sent diplomat John Slidell to Mexico with an offer to buy California.
Mexico was unwilling to deal with the United States.
§ meanwhile, Polk prepared for war
§ General Zachary Taylor, “Old Rough-n-Ready” brought 4,000 troops to Corpus
Christi
§ they built Fort Texas on land that Mexico claimed as its own
§ fighting broke out in April of 1846
¿ the first un-official Battle was at Palo Alto north of Brownsville
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Texas History
Fort Burrows
¿ this fight ended in a draw
§ 4 days later the U.S. Congress declared war on Mexico, May 13, 1846
¿ the Mexican army suffered heavy losses
¿ Taylor’s army crossed the Rio Grande into Mexico
Texans and Mexican War
§ Angry at the U.S. for taking Texas away from them
§ Texas Rangers gain more fame
¿ They did not follow the every day rules of common battle
Ranger Samuel C. Reid said, “Before us stood the steep and rugged hill, about
380 feet high, whose slopes were covered with thick and thorny chaparral. With a
glass could be seen the swarm of Mexicans that crowned the height, while its cannon,
which looked down in defiance at us, seemed to threaten total destruction to all who
dared to approach…General Worth rode up, and pointing to the height said, ‘ Men,
you are to take that hill and I know you will do it,’ With one response they all replied,
We Will!”
glass - the word they used for a telescope
§ American female spy
¿ Jane Cazneau was an American journalist that spied behind the Mexican
lines
Battles – Mexican troops verses American troops
§ Palo Alto 4000 Mexican to 2500 American
§ Buena Vista (Santa Anna) had 15,000 Mexican to 4800 American
§ Veracruz 16,500 Mexican to 10,000 American – captured Mexico City
§ Contreras 25,500 Mexican to 8000 American
Results of the War
§ by September Taylor’s troops continued south and captured the city of
Monterrey
§ U.S. forces led by Winfield Scott captured Mexico City also in September
§ victory Over Mexico. The fighting ended in September 1847
§ Mexico lost the war
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848)
§ Mexico recognized Texas as part of United States
§ Mexico agreed that the Rio Grande would be the southern border of Texas
§ Mexican Cession: Ceding Land
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¿ Mexico gave the United States land as part of a cession, or the granting of
land by one country to another
¿ The United States gained territory that includes the present-day states of
California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado
¿ it paid Mexico $15 million for the land
§ United States owned the lands from the Atlantic to the Pacific
§ Texas was looking toward the future, but war was not finished with Texas
1.
What is a cession ?
A. the granting of land by one country to another
B. the period during which the governor reviews proposed laws
C. an agreement by both sides to halt a battle
D. an agreement to end a war
2.
Under which treaty did Mexico recognize Texas as part of the United States ?
A. the Treaties of Velasco
B. the Treaty of Buena Vista
C. the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
D. none of the above
3.
What issues brought Texas and Mexico to war ?
1. __________________________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________
4.
What group of Texas fighters earned fame in the Mexican War ?
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5.
What present-day states did the United States acquire in the Mexican Cession ?
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