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Bellwork • Why didn’t the United States Congress support the annexation of Texas? American History Section 8, Unit 2 American Expansionism Objectives • List the events that led to the war between the U.S. and Mexico. • List the territories did the United states gain as a result of the war. • Describe the impact of the Mexican War on Mexican citizens. • Describe how Polk was able to expand the boundaries of the United States under his presidency. Oregon Country • Long before the issues concerning Texas annexation (which we will discuss again soon) merchants had been trading in the Far West– as far back as 1790. • After Mexican independence in 1821, trade increased with the Mexican government as they promoted trade with the U.S. Oregon Trail • Trails, such as the Santa Fe Trail– a 700 mile trail from Missouri to Santa Fe– opened the East to new markets in the West. • As trade spread, between 1811 and 1813, trappers and mountain men in the Rockies blazed a new route known as the Oregon Trail. • The Oregon trail opened up new routes for farmers and religious missionaries. Oregon Trail • Despite the benefits of the new trail, there were issues: 1. 2. 3. Native American groups in the area blamed missionaries for spreading disease in the region that severely reduced Native population. Native American attacks had occurred, although rare. The journey– considering the time- was extremely rigorous and dangerous. Expansion • With all this new western land available, expansionists, primarily southerners and Democrats, hoped to add Texas, Oregon Country, and northern Mexico to the United states. • As we will see, this war would have a long term impact on the Mexican citizens left in the U.S. Annexation • Between 1836 and 1845, the question of Texas annexation did not die. • Many believed the citizens of Texas should be part of the Union. • The issue was hotly debated in Congress. Questions: 1. What was “manifest destiny”? 2. Why didn’t Congress want to allow Texas in at first? Debate over annexation • Supporters argued that if Texas was not admitted, Britain might gain influence. • Opponents argued that Texas joining the union would increase the South’s power in Congress and upset the balance of slave and free states. Annexation • The issue of western expansion became an issue into the 1844 presidential campaigns. • In these campaigns, Whig party candidate Henry Clay faced against Democrat James K. Polk. Known as “Young Hickory”, James K. Polk was the protégé of Andrew Jackson and was actually endorsed by Jackson when he ran for House Speaker and when he ran for the 1844 Election. Annexation • Polk, a Tennessee politician, called for the annexation of Texas and Oregon. • Clay’s platform, however, did not mention Texas at all. • With this, Polk won with 170 electoral votes to Clays 105. Annexation • Polk was an expansionist who was successful at “negotiating” with Britain at dividing Oregon country at the 49th parallel (the modern Canadian boundary). • In reality, Polk forced Britain’s hand by declaring that all of Oregon to Alaska was the United States if he wasn’t given Oregon country. Question: Do you think taking Oregon Country would be enough for Polk? If not, what else would he want? Annexation • Polk’s call for Texas annexation caused tensions with Mexico. • Mexico had warned that annexing Texas would be akin to declaring war against them. Tensions rise • Polk fueled the tensions by demanding that it recognize the Rio Grande as Mexico’s northern border– 100 miles south of where they originally had their border. • To back up his demand, Polk ordered troops under General Zachary Taylor to move to the disputed territory. – Polk was well aware that such as action would provoke an armed clash with Mexican troops. Tensions rise • Polk ordered General Taylor to move deeper into disputed area. • Publicly, Polk made it seem as if he was protecting American territory, but he was hoping Mexico would commit an act to justify a war. Question: Why do you think Polk wanted a war? Polk had hoped for a war to give him a chance to finally expand American territory into the West. The Mexican War • In 1846, the Mexican troops crossed the Rio Grande and attacked a U.S. patrol. • Polk sent his war message to Congress: “Mexico has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon American soil.” • On May 13, 1846, Congress declared war. The Mexican War • Some Americans criticized called the war “Mr. Polk’s war”. • They charged that the war was aimed at trying to get more slave territory. The Mexican War • While the opposition to the war was great, most Americans– especially southerners and those in the west– wanted Mexican lands for agriculture. • Many began to enlist in the military to help support the war effort. The Mexican War • In 1846, led by General Stephen Kearny, a U.S. military force took Santa Fe and won control of New Mexico. • After that, Kearny marched into California where U.S. settlers revolted against Mexican rule. The Mexican War • In what became known as the Bear Flag Revolt, Californians raised a flag bearing a grizzly bear on it and declared California an independent republic from Mexico. • The American military also aided these rebels in fighting back against Mexico. The Mexican War • As the war continued, American troops captured San Pasqual near San Diego, and after several battles, U.S. troops defeated Mexican troops near Los Angeles. • The victory near Los Angeles sealed the defeat for Mexico in California. The Mexican War • In the final campaign of the war, the U.S. engaged in a bold plan to take Mexico City. • U.S. troops succeeded in reaching the National Palace, which President Santa Anna had abandoned. • Ultimately, the U.S. troops assaulted and captured the capital September 14, 1847. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo • By the end of September, U.S. forces held California and New Mexico; General Taylor’s forces occupied much of Northern Mexico while General Scott controlled Mexico City. • In February, 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the war on terms dictated by the U.S. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo • Mexico gave up all claims to Texas and what was known as the Mexican Cession: California, Nevada, Utah and parts of Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico. • In return, the U.S. agreed to pay Mexico $15 million. Question: While we won the war, why might it have been a good idea to still pay the Mexican government for the land? Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo • As well, the treaty also promised full citizenship to Mexican citizens who are affected by the Mexican Cession and that Americans would respect their religious beliefs and property rights. Mexican Cession Look carefully, what didn’t Americans get? Gadsden Purchase • In 1853, U.S. diplomat James Gadsden negotiated a deal with Mexico to buy a strip of land in present day Arizona and New Mexico for $10 million. • The Gadsden Purchase was the last territorial acquisition of the continental United States. Gadsden Purchase What is shaded in yellow was the Gadsden Purchase. Territories– including those we haven’t talked about yet Mexican Americans • The war resulted in about 80,000 Spanishspeaking people becoming part of the U.S. instantly. • However, many of these new citizens left, feeling like “foreigners in their own land”. Mexican Americans • For many MexicanAmericans– many of those who had already been in contact with U.S. citizens– the adjustments were fairly easy. • Despite the guarantees in 1848, however, many Mexican Americans lost their land. Mexican Americans • Many Americans looked down on the culture of the region, which blended Spanish, Mexican, and Indian culture together. • The resulting atmosphere and discrimination against many Mexican Americans sparked rebellions in the southwest. Mexican Americans • One such rebellion was lead by Juan Nepomuceno Cortina, a Tejano rancher and politician. • He led a rebellion in 1859 after shooting and wounding a Texas marshal who used excessive force on another Tejano. – Cortina fled south of the Rio Grande but continued to spark small rebellions in the area well into the 1870’s. Mexican Americans • In response to such rebellions (and later issues ensuing), Americans in the region began to intimidate Mexican American communities through harassment, beatings, and even murders. • The bitter issues that were raised during the Mexican War took a long time to subside. New Lands • With new lands available to the Americans, people slowly began to stream into the West, seeking fortune and fame that awaited them in the new states– primarily California. Closure • Take sides: – Give 1 reason why someone would have supported the Mexican War. – Give 1 reason why someone would have opposed the Mexican War. Questions to Consider: (1) What did the U.S. gain from the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo? (2) How were Mexican Americans treated in the regions gained? (3) What was the Gadsden Purchase? Review Objectives • What issues and events led to the war between the U.S. and Mexico? • What territories did the United states gain as a result of the war? • What was the impact of war on former Mexican citizens? • Describe how Polk was able to expand the boundaries of the United States under his presidency. Questions? • If you have any questions, please ask now. Next lesson • In the next lesson, we will begin discussing the prelude to the Civil War. Review 1. Briefly explain what led up to the Mexican War. 2. How were Mexican Americans supposed to be treated under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo? What happened in reality? 3. What modern states did the United States gain in the Mexican Cession? 4. Why did some Americans criticize the Mexican War? 5. Why did some Americans support Texas annexation? Why did others oppose it? 6. How did Anglo-Americans react to Mexican Americans rebelling against them? 7. Some politicians referred to the Mexican War as “Mr. Polk’s War”. Do you think they are a fair point when they referred to it as such? Why or why not?