Download Texas and the Mexican War

Texas and the Mexican
War
Chapter 10 Sections 1 and 2
Life in the New Republic
• First order of business
– Increase population
• French and German immigrants are
brought to Texas
• Most became farmers
• Foreign language churches,
newspapers and social clubs sprout
up
• These new foreigners fared
better than the Tejanos
– Victims of violence and
discrimination
Problems in Texas
• relatively small population
– Few towns and cities
• poor infrastructure
– Everyone was spread out, poor
communication
• widespread economic problems
– Little cash and few tax revenues
• many conflicts with American Indians
– The Texas Rangers
• Continued fighting with Mexico
Texas Annexation
• supporters: if Texas was not admitted to
the Union, Great Britain might increase its
influence there
– Britain wanted it as a source of cotton and as
a market for British goods
• opponents: would increase the south's
power in Congress by upsetting the
balance between free and slave states
Texas helps Polk
• 1844 election
• Whigs: Henry Clay
•
-no mention of Texas in his platform
• Democrats: James K Polk
•
-called for the annexation of Texas and
Oregon
•
-dark horse candidate (not considered a
strong contender)
• Electoral College Votes
•
Polk: 170 Clay: 105
• -Polk pushed for the annexation of Texas
•
-Mexico warned any attempt would be
considered "equivalent to a declaration of war
SECTION 2
American Expansionism
EVENTS LEADING TO TEXAS ANNEXATION AND THE MEXICAN WAR
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• James K. Polk wins the presidency.
• Mexico warns the United States that annexation of Texas is equivalent
to a declaration of war.
• Congress votes to admit Texas to the Union.
• Mexico breaks diplomatic ties with the United States.
• Polk resituates the northern border and sends troops to the disputed region.
• Tensions increase.
• John Slidell tries to persuade Mexico to resituate the border and to sell
New Mexico and California to the United States.
• Mexican citizens are outraged.
• Polk orders Zachary Taylor to move troops deeper into the disputed area.
• Mexican troops attack at U.S. patrol.
CONGRESS DECLARES WAR ON MEXICO
The Mexican War, 1846-1847
Polk’s War
– Some spoke out (Lincoln and Frederick
Douglass)
• A means to acquiring more slave territory
– 50,000 volunteers enlist in the army
Generals involved
– Zachary Taylor – central Mexico (with 5,000
men, defeated 15,000 under Santa Anna)
– Stephen Kearny – New Mexico and California
– Winfield Scott – Mexico City siege
Map
California and New Mexico
Kearny captured New Mexico territory without
firing a shot
Moved on to California
Group of settlers already revolted in California
–
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–
–
–
–
Led by John C. Fremont
Fremont received secret letter from Polk
marched north and organized settlers
June 1846, the Bear Flag Revolt takes place
Claim California as an independent republic
Monterey (capital) captured by US Marines
Santa Anna soon defeated in Mexico by Taylor
Why the Bear Flag Revolt?
Siege of Mexico City
Winfield Scott leads 10,000 soldiers
Capture Veracruz, using this as a base
March to Mexico City, fighting the entire
way
Arrived in September
Took the National Palace
Defeated the last garrison and defenders
surrendered September 14, 1847
The Treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo
February 1848
Mexico gave up all claims to Texas.
Mexico surrendered vast territory known as the
Mexican Cession.
– (California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Wyoming,
Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado)
The United States agreed to pay Mexico $15
million and pay damages claimed by U.S. citizens
against Mexico.
The United States agreed to grant full citizenship
to Mexicans living in the Mexican Cession.
Mexican Cession
Aftermath
US gained some 80,000 new citizens
Many of these Mexicans lost their lands
Those who kept their lands had to fight
legal battles to do so
Prejudice towards Mexican Americans
– Led to Mexican American rebellions in the
territories
– Skirmishes with Texas Rangers
But, we now extend from sea to shining sea