1. Mexican-American War Text Talk
“The USA will conquer  Mexico, but it will be as the man swallows arsenic…Mexico will poison us.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson 1846

2. Day Objectives
Chronicle the USA’s expansion through the west under Polk’s Presidency
Evaluate the causes of the Mexican-American War
Analyze the effects of Westward expansion on the United States by 1848

3. “I’ll give you one term…”
1. James
K. Polk
“I’ll give you one term…”
1844 Democratic National Conv is split…
Unpopular frontrunner was Van Buren
Polk = Dark Horse
Someone helps advise Polk on how to get the nomination
Polk after being picked…
Jackson!

4. c. Polk’s 1-Term Goals Annex Texas (it is still its own country)
Reach Settlement on Oregon Territory w/GB
“Obtain” California
Economic stuff
c. Polk’s
1-Term
Goals

5. b. 

6. America was in favor of…
b. Why
Did
Polk
Beat
Clay?
Let’s Do it!
Ehhhh. I’m not sure.
America was in favor of…
Expansion!! Manifest Destiny!!

7. c. Polk’s 1-Term Goals Annex Texas (it is still its own country)
Reach Settlement on Oregon Territory w/GB
“Obtain” California
Economic stuff
c. Polk’s
1-Term
Goals

8. Why
did
Texas
want
in the
USA so
badly?

9. Tyler & Congress annex Texas…Feb 1845
Who is
Lots of
“What ifs”

10. USA on the “playground”
Polk picks the easier fight…Mexico
Missouri Senator Thomas Benton asked why the USA won’t go after Canada as resolutely as Mexico…
“…because Great Britain is powerful, and Mexico is weak.”
GB
Mexico 
USA on the “playground”

11. 2. Oregon Dispute 1846 Dispute w/GB “54-40 or Fight!” means 
Some in USA wanted war if it didn’t get 54° 40' latitude line
Does Polk “fight?”
No…makes a deal for 49th Parallel in 1846

12.
Mexican-American War

13. a. 2 Causes for the War USA wants… Mexico still bitter about…
Port of San Fran!
Mexico still bitter about…

14. Polk tries two tactics to get California

15. Polk first tries to buy California
How much do
you offer?
$25 mil

16. Tactic #2
General Zachary Taylor and 4K troops ordered to go up to Rio Grande…why?
What can we claim now?
When have we done something like this before?

17. c.iii. War Begins
April 25, 1846, Mexican troops cross the Rio Grande and fire on General Taylor’s army.
May 13, 1846, the USA declares war on Mexico. (who declares war?)

18. iv. Contoversy with the spark
Upon the pretext that Texas, a nation as independent as [Mexico], thought proper to unite its destinies with our own [Mexico] has affected to believe that we have severed her rightful territory, and in official proclamations and manifestoes has repeatedly threatened to make war upon us for the purpose of reconquering Texas. In the meantime we have tried every effort at reconciliation. The cup of forbearance had been exhausted even before the recent information from the frontier of the [Rio Grande]. But now, after reiterated menaces, Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon the American soil. She has proclaimed that hostilities have commenced, and that the two nations are now at war.
As war exists, and, notwithstanding all our efforts to avoid it, exists by the act of Mexico herself, we are called upon by every consideration of duty and patriotism to vindicate with decision the honor, the rights, and the interests of our country.
- James K. Polk 1846 Address to Congress

19. …And whereas this House is desirous to obtain a full knowledge of all the facts which go to establish whether the particular spot on which the blood of our citizens was so shed was or was not at that time our own soil:
Therefore,
Resolved By the House of Representatives, that the President of the United States be respectfully requested to inform this House --  
1st. Whether the spot on which the blood of our citizens was shed, as in his messages declared, was or was not within the territory of Spain, at least after the treaty of 1819, until the Mexican revolution. 
2d. Whether that spot is or is not within the territory which was wrested from Spain by the revolutionary Government of Mexico….
- Abraham Lincoln Speech before the House of Representatives…December 22, 1847
“Spotty
Lincoln”

20. Mexico calls this war…
War of North
American
Invasion

21. d. USA
wins
the war

22. e. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends the war February 1848
You are Polk…what are your demands (terms) when you sit at the bargaining table?

23. e. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
1. USA
gains
4. Property rights
& safety of those
in this territory
must be
preserved (?)
3. USA pays $18mil
for land & debts
owed to Mexico
2. Rio Grande is
 the border

24. 2. Beyond Polk’s Presidency…1853
USA makes the
Gadsden Purchase
for
$10 mil

25. Why do you need it?

27. b. Mexican American War Effects
“The United States will conquer Mexico, but it will be as the man swallows arsenic… Mexico will poison us.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

28. b. Wilmot Proviso…1846, 1847, 1848
Introduced 3 times by Congressman David Wilmot (Dem) of PA...
What did it say?
Passed the House every time but not the Senate… why?
Must be
Free
States

29. Opening Question Title = Why people move
What are some reasons people leave certain places in the USA and go to others? What pushes and pulls people to certain places? Where do you want to move to? Why?
Opening Question

30. Push & Pull Factors  Push Factor Pull Factor
Reasons to leave the place you currently live in
Pull Factor
Reasons that make you want to migrate to a new location
What were the reasons back then? They haven’t changed much!!

32. …A few trails to take

33. OR CA CA CA CA CA CA OR OR CA OR Who goes where? CA OR OR CA CA CA CA
Missionary
Thief
Chinese Immigrant
South American Immigrant
Free Black
Slave
Doctor
Fur Traders
Frontiersman
Single Man
Family Man
Denim Salesman
Loggers
Farmer
“Indian Hunters”
Saloon owner
Single woman
Launderer
Vigilante
Australian Immigrant OR CA CA CA CA CA CA OR OR CA OR
Who goes where? CA OR OR CA CA CA CA CA CA CA

34. Oregon Less populated Indians wiped out by disease
Difficult “Oregon Trail”
Indians wiped out by disease
Frontiersmen “blend in”

35. California Gold Discovered in 1848… who comes next? Population swings
Indians slaughtered and enslaved
California

36. 49ers Early Birds cashed in Gold Rush Songs… Oh Sussanna
Oh my Darling, Clementine