1. War with Mexico
Section 3
Chapter 12

2. The New Mexico Territory
The vast area between Texas and California (Present day: NM., AZ., NV., and UT.)
Mexico had little control over distant territories.
Mexico welcomed Americans into their territory in hopes of helping the economy

3. Mexican government welcomed Americans into New Mexico to help with mining gold
True
False

4. The Santa Fe Trail
William Becknell becomes the first American trader to reach Santa Fe in 1821
His route becomes know as Santa Fe Trail
Trail is mainly flat and makes wagon travel easier
Santa Fe becomes major trade center
Manifest Destiny—many saw New Mexico as a territory worth acquiring

5. The belief that Americans had a right to New Mexico was called
Mexican War
Destiny
Manifest Destiny
[Default]
[MC Any]
[MC All]

8. California’s Spanish Culture
Missionaries were the
first Spanish to
settle in California
American:
Jedediah Smith
visits modern-day
Los Angeles in 1820

9. What were missionaries trying to spread
RELIGION

10. California after 1821
California becomes a state in the new country of Mexico in 1821
Mexican settlers built huge properties called ranchos
Rancheros treated their Native Americans like Southern Plantation owners treated slaves

11. Manifest Destiny and California
At first Mexicans welcomed Americans
By 1845 the American population was only 700
Army officer John C. Fremont wrote about the beauty of California
Americans begin talking about adding California to the nation
Shipping ports would help with trade with Japan and China
President Polk offered to buy New Mexico and California but Mexico refused to sell it

12. The USA saw California for its valuable gold in 1845
True
False

14. War with Mexico
Polk wanted California—clear passage to the Pacific Ocean
Polk believed in Manifest Destiny
Polk wanted to provoke Mexico into a war
This was he could justify the war to the American people.
Dispute grows with Texan border and Mexico
USA insisted that the Rio Grande was the border
Mexico insisted it was the Nueces River (150 miles north)

15. What was the river that the USA claimed as the southern border of the USA?
RIO GRANDE

16. Conflict Begins
Mexican government announced its intention to reclaim Texas
Polk ordered Gen. Zachary Taylor to march his soldiers south towards the Rio Grande River
On April 24, Mexican soldiers attacked a small force of Taylor’s soldiers
On May 11, 1846 Congress declared War on Mexico

17. Who really started the Mexican War?
Mexico
USA
None of the Above
[Default]
[MC Any]
[MC All]

18. Gen. Zachary Taylor

19. American Attitudes Toward the War
Americans divided over the war
Polk’s party the Democrats supported the war
Whigs opposed the war—”aggressive and unjust war”—”would spread slavery”
Abraham Lincoln demanded to see the exact spot where the first attack occurred
Fredrick Douglas feared it would spread slavery
Newspapers generally favored the war
Volunteers sign up in large numbers to fight.

21. Polk’s War Plan 3-Part Plan to divide up Mexican forces
Drive Mexicans out of disputed Texas border area
Seize New Mexico and California
American forces would take Mexico City—capital of Mexico

23. Americans defeat Mexicans at Buena Vista, Texas border secured
General Stephen Kearny led his troops into New Mexico and California
Kearny captures the capital
of New Mexico Territory
Santa Fe

24. California and the Bear Flag Republic
June 1846 small group of Americans seize Sonoma, California and proclaimed the independent Republic of California
Bear Flag Republic
Californios (Mexican Californians) were outraged that Americans were trying to seize their land.

25. Naval Intervention
U.S. Navy under the command of Commodore John Sloat captured San Francisco
Sloat declared California part of America
Sloat, Fremont, and Kit Carson help capture San Diego and moved north to L.A.
By 1847 California was fully controlled by the United States

26. The Capture of Mexico City
General Winfield Scott’s army landed on the Gulf on New Mexico near the port city of Veracruz.
Americans fight their way to Mexico City
August 1847 Mexican government surrendered
U.S.A lost 1,172 men to battles 11,000 to disease
Mexico lost half its territory

28. The Peace Treaty Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Mexico gave up all claims to Texas
Rio Grande becomes the southern border
Mexican Cession—Mexico ceded California and New Mexico to the USA
U.S. gave Mexico 15 Million
In 1853 USA gave an additional 10 million for the Gadsden Purchase

30. DiBo’s Useless Fact
Owen Thomas Edgar (June 17, 1831 – September 3, 1929) was, according to data from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the last surviving U.S. veteran of the Mexican-American War.
He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the United States Navy as a 2nd-class apprentice on February 10, 1846, and was discharged August 8, Edgar saw service on the frigates Potomac, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, and Experience.
After the war, he worked at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing for 21 years, then worked at a bank for another 31 years. He spent his last ten years living at the John Dickson Home in Washington, D.C. Edgar died on September 3, 1929 at the age of 98 after suffering a fall from a chair that fractured his leg, and was buried in Washington's Congressional Cemetery.