Download The Mexican American War

The Mexican American War
The


Mexican American war was a result of:
Manifest Destiny
USA annexing Texas
In
1844 James Polk became President
USA because he promised to increase t
of the United States
James K. Polk

The “dark horse” candidate from Tennessee wins
the election of 1844 because he promised to fulfill
Manifest Destiny.

Polk supported the Monroe Doctrine and warned
European powers to avoid conflict with the
Americans.

Polk sent John Slidell to Mexico to find a “diplomatic
solution” to the Texas border issue.
 Slidell offered MX $25 million for the California
Territory.
Mexican Reaction

Mexican President,
Mariano Parades
refused to see Slidell.

He broke off diplomatic
relations with the
United States.

The proposed
purchase of California
did not end, many
leaders in California
wanted to join the U.S.
as a new state.
Outbreak of War

In April 1846, Mexican soldiers crossed the Rio
Grande River and attacked a small American
cavalry unit, killing a dozen American soldiers.

The American headlines read, “Mexicans kill
American soldiers on American soil!”

On May 13th, US Congress declared war.

Many Americans in New England did not support
the war. They saw the war as American aggression
against a weaker neighbor.
Map
A. Polk moves General Zachary Taylor and 4000
troops to Corpus Christi
C. General Stephen Kearny is sent to California to
rally them to revolt against Mexico
D. Mexico City – the capital. John Slidell was sent
there to attempt diplomacy – but it failed
E. General Winfield Scott and 3 naval ships were
sent to Gulf of Mexico just outside of the Mxn capital
B. After diplomacy fails, Taylor is moved just
north of the Rio Grande
Polk’s War Strategy



General Zachary
Taylor invaded
northern Mexico.
General Stephen
Kearny traveled west
and captured Santa
Fe, and supported
revolt in California.
General Winfield Scott
invaded Mexico City.
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
 The United States gained full title to Texas with the Rio
Grande as the southern border.
 US gets California Territory and the Santa Fe Territory
(including present day Arizona, Utah, Nevada,
California, New Mexico and parts of Colorado).
 The U.S. paid $15 million for California and Santa Fe
and agreed to pay Mexican debts totaling 3.25 million
dollars.
 In 1853, the United States purchased the southern
portion of New Mexico in the Gadsden Purchase for
$10 million dollars enabling the U.S. to have flat land for
a connecting railroad.