Download Mexican-American War

Chapter 9, Section 3
Conflict With Mexico
Part 2: The Mexican-American War
p. 330-333
The Texas War for Independence
leads to conflict and war between
the United States and Mexico.
Review:
The War for Texas Independence
• Battle of San Jacinto is the
culmination
• Six weeks after the Alamo,
Texians & Sam Houston
defeat Santa Anna & the
Mexican Army
– 18 minute battle - Santa Anna
captured in Private’s uniform
Santa Anna surrenders to wounded
Sam Houston at San Jacinto (April 21,1836)
• Treaty signed recognizing
Texas’ independence
• Sam Houston elected 1st
President of the Republic of
Texas
The Independent Republic of Texas
(1836-1845)
• April 1836: Houston forces
Santa Anna to recognize
Texan independence
• Houston hopes U.S. will
annex (add on) Texas
• Jackson & Van Buren refuse
to support annexation
Why?
– Didn’t want to start a war
– Controversy over slavery
– Texas was in debt $
• Finally annexed by “lame
duck” Tyler in Feb. 1845
– Becomes state Dec. 29, 1845
Republic of Texas flag
Annexing Oregon
Main Idea: Americans elect a new President in 1844 who promises to expand
the territory of the United States.
• Election of 1844: James K.
Polk promises to expand
U.S. territory
– Campaign Slogan: “54° 40´ or
Fight!”
• Defeats Whig Candidate:
– Henry Clay
• Polk threatens war with
Britain over Oregon
Territory
– Signs treaty with Britain
setting border with Canada at
49° N latitude.
President #11 – James K Polk
Annexing Texas
(Becomes 28th state in 1845)
• Mexico hopes to reclaim
Texas, doesn’t want to
cede (give up) more land
– Mexico claims Texas border
is the Nueces River
– Texas claims its border is
the Rio Grande
• U.S. annexes Texas
• Mexico refuses Rio
Grande border & U.S.
claim to Texas
• Polk sends “Army of
Observation” led by…
The Mexican-American War
Main Idea: Expansionists favor war with Mexico, but some Americans
disapprove.
• Polk provokes a Mexican
attack by sending U.S. troops
into disputed territory (1845)
– Led by Zachary Taylor
• Mexican troops ambush U.S.
patrol (in disputed territory)
– 11 killed, 52 captured
• Polk gets Congress to declare
war on Mexico
“American blood has been shed
on American soil!” - J. Polk 1846
Zachary Taylor
“Old Rough & Ready”
Opposition to the War
• Not all Americans support
“Mr. Polk’s War”
• A young Abraham Lincoln
opposes it, calling it an
“expansionist war”
Support varies by region:
North opposes the war
– John Quincy Adams, “bigger
pens to cram with slaves”
South supports the war
• War is on – Who will lead
Mexico?....
Abraham Lincoln in 1846
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna
• Mexico turns to Santa Anna (again)
– He has to sneak past American blockade
• Taylor invades from north (Texas)
– Crosses Rio Grande
• Meets Santa Anna at the battle of
Buena Vista
– American “victory” due to Mexican civil
war Samuel Chamberlain’s painting
“He’s baaaaack”
Santa Anna in 1847
Rebellion in California
• John C. Fremont
launches a revolt to free
California from Mexican
control
– Bear Flag Rebellion
• Territory quickly gains
independence (Jan. 1847)
• President Polk names
Stephen Kearney
Fremont military
governor of CA
– Fremont’s goal: obtain
statehood as quickly as
possible
– Meanwhile……
John C. Fremont & the “Bear Flag Republic”
Invasion of Mexico
• General Winfield Scott
(with Taylor’s troops)
attacks the port city of
Vera Cruz
• Beach town on the Gulf of
Mexico
– First amphibious landing in
U.S. history
– 20 day siege: March 1847
• Marches toward Mexico
City (just like Cortez)
General Winfield Scott
“Old Fuss & Feathers”
The March to Mexico City
• Robert E. Lee – Scott’s
brilliant engineer
• Win battle of Cerro Gordo
- Capture Santa Anna’s leg
• Defeat the “San Patricios”
at Churubusco
– Some are executed,
some branded
• On to Mexico City
– Final battle at the Castillo
de Chapultepec
Fighting St. Patrick’s Brigade
at Churubusco
Captain
Robert E. Lee
Los Niños Héroes: The Child Heroes
• Battle of Chapultepec:
6 young Mexican cadets
fight with Santa Anna
against American Army
- 5 killed in action
- Last cadet jumps from
cliffs of Chapultepec
Castle, wrapped in
Mexican Flag
– Prevent enemy from
capturing the flag &
making it a trophy of war
Monument to “Los Niños Héroes”:
Juan de la Barrera, Juan Escutia, Francisco
Marquez, Agustin Melgar, Fernando Montes
de Oca, & Vincente Suarez
Achieving Manifest Destiny
Main Idea: Result of the Mexican-American War, the United States gains huge new territory.
• Over 525,000 square miles added to the U.S.
– “From Sea to Shining Sea” – Manifest Destiny achieved
• Americans suffer 13,000 losses, most to disease (Only 1700 died in combat)
• Training ground for future generals of the American Civil War
• Expansion of territory reignites tensions between North & South over slavery
Characters of the Mexican-American War
Zachary Taylor
Winfield
Scott
George B. McClellan
Antonio Lopez
De Santa Anna
John C. Fremont
Ulysses S. Grant
Robert E. Lee
Santa Anna’s Leg
• Santa Anna wounded,
leg amputated during
“French Pastry War”
1838-1839
• Leg captured by
Americans at the
Battle of Cerro Gordo
• Leg is in a museum in
Springfield, Illinois
• Mexico doesn’t want it
back
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