Objectives Explain how Texas became independent from Mexico. Discuss the issues involved in annexing Texas and Oregon. Summarize the main events in the Mexican- American War. Explain how the United States achieved Manifest Destiny.

Terms and People Stephen Austin – an American who established a small settlement in Mexican-owned Texas; later, he urged Texans to revolt against the Mexican government dictatorship – one-person rule siege – an attack in which one force surrounds a city or fort Sam Houston – commander of the Texas forces during the Texas War for Independence; later, president of the Republic of Texas

Terms and People (continued) annex – add on James K. Polk – U.S. president who negotiated the boundaries of Oregon Country; later, he provoked the Mexican-American War cede – give up John C. Frémont – an American who took command of the Bear Flag Rebellion in California

Chapter 13 Section 3: Conflict with Mexico I can describe the impact of the Mexican American War on both countries.

Set Questions: Where is Mexico in relation to the United States? What 4 states share a border with this country? How are Mexican-U.S. relations today? What is one major issue between the two countries today? What was one major issue between the two countries back then?

What were the causes and effects of the Texas War for Independence and the Mexican-American War? Texans revolted against the Mexican government when it became a dictatorship. The United States and Mexico went to war over a border dispute.

Texas War for Independence In 1820, Texas’s Spanish governor gave Moses Austin a land grant to establish a colony there. After Moses died, his son, Stephen Austin, led 300 Americans into Texas, shortly before Mexico won independence from Spain. Mexico agreed to let Austin keep his colony if the colonists became Catholic Mexican citizens.

Growing Conflict in Texas Religion and Slavery The thousands of Americans who settled in Texas were Protestant, not Catholic. The settlers were also slaveholders who wanted to grow cotton in Texas, but Mexico had abolished slavery. A Ban on Americans In 1830, Mexico banned further American settlement, but Americans kept coming to Texas. Mexico also began to levy heavy taxes on American imports.

In 1833, General Antonio López de Santa Anna became president of Mexico, and he soon started a dictatorship. These events dashed the hopes of: American settlers who wanted more representation in the Mexican legislature. Some Tejanos (Texans of Mexican descent) who wanted a more democratic government. In 1836, Texans declared independence from Mexico and created the Republic of Texas.

The Alamo Santa Anna’s troops laid siege to the Alamo, a San Antonio mission where 185 Anglo-Americans and Tejanos were gathered.

The defenders of the Alamo held out for 12 days, but they were all eventually killed.

Capture of Santa Anna A few months later, Sam Houston and the Texas forces attacked San Jacinto and captured Santa Anna. They forced him to sign a treaty recognizing Texan independence. Remember the Alamo!

Sam Houston, president of the new Republic of Texas, hoped the United States would annex Texas. Presidents Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren would not support annexation, fearing that the addition of a slave state would split the country. Almost 10 years after Texas became independent, it still had not become an American state.

The Presidential Election of 1844 and the Annexation of Texas and Oregon Whig party nominee Henry Clay tried to avoid the issue of Texas annexation. When campaigning for President, the Democratic party nominee James K. Polk called for the annexation of both Texas and Oregon, and he won the election. Annexation of Texas and Oregon Shortly before Polk took office, President John Tyler asked Congress to annex Texas. Congress voted in favor of the annexation in 1845, and Texas quickly agreed. Polk negotiated with Britain to divide Oregon, and the land the U.S. received eventually became Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

Conflict with Mexico The annexation of Texas increased tensions with Mexico, because it had never formally recognized Texan independence. The United States and Mexico also disagreed on the location of the southern boundary of Texas. Polk offered Mexico money to settle the dispute and to purchase California and New Mexico. Not wanting to cede more land to the United States, Mexico refused Polk’s offer.

Mexican troops attacked Americans. Polk then tried to provoke Mexico into war by sending troops into the disputed land. Mexican troops attacked Americans. Congress declared war on Mexico, saying Mexico had forced its hand.

Many northerners were against the war and thought Polk was trying to extend slavery. Most Americans, especially southerners and westerners, supported the Mexican-American War.

Troops attacked Mexico on two fronts. John C. Frémont and Stephen Kearney moved west from Fort Leavenworth to take control of California.

The Bear Flag Revolt Before they even reached California, settlers near San Francisco began their own armed revolt. The settlers raised a grizzly bear flag and declared California an independent republic. Frémont took command of the Bear Flag Rebellion.

Mexican-American War U.S. forces were led by Gen. Winfield Scott and Gen. Zachary Taylor. Mexican Forces were led by Gen. Santa Anna

U.S. General Zachary Taylor marched south from the Rio Grande River and defeated a large Mexican force at Buena Vista.

U.S. General Winfield Scott captured Veracruz, an important Mexican port, and then forced the Mexican army into Mexico City. Still, Santa Anna would not surrender.

On the other front, the U.S. Navy blockaded Mexico’s west coast. The navy helped secure California while another fleet in the Gulf of Mexico supported the assault at Veracruz.

Scott and his forces attacked Chapultepec, a stone palace above Mexico city. Like the Texans at the Alamo, the Mexicans fought bravely to defend Chapultepec, but most of them were killed. After that defeat, Santa Anna left Mexico City.

Mexico recognized the U. S Mexico recognized the U.S. annexation of Texas and ceded a vast territory that included present-day California, Nevada, and Utah, as well as parts of Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. The Mexican Cession For the Mexican Cession, the U.S. paid $18 million to Mexico.

The United States had achieved Manifest Destiny. In the Gadsen Purchase of 1853, the United States paid Mexico $10 million for a narrow strip of present-day Arizona and New Mexico. The United States had achieved Manifest Destiny.

Closing Questions: What were the conflicts between the United States and Mexico discussed in this section? What are the lasting effects of the first conflict? What are the lasting effects of the second conflict? What was the last event of the war? Hint it was a withdrawal from a city. Which side is more to blame for this conflict? Justify your response with 3 complete sentences.

Section Review QuickTake Quiz Know It, Show It Quiz 33