Mexican-American War “Mr. Polk’s War”

James K. Polk Elected in 1844 A Democrat An expansionist “Manifest Destiny: US from the Atlantic to the Pacific

US public opinion: Expansion Using the military to expand:

1836-1845: Texas- “The Lone Star Republic” Nueces River: The traditional southern border between TX and MEX The Rio Grande: What TX insisted was the border

1845-The USA annexed Texas

Mexican government VERY UNSTABLE! Santa Anna was ousted (he would later return)

1845 President Polk sent John Slidell to MX to: purchase New Mexico and California Establish the Rio Grande as the US/MX border Mexican government refuses to meet with him Polk orders Gen. Zachary Taylor to take position along the Rio Grande

????? Was Taylor in US territory or MEX territory?

Some viewed the annexation of TX AND war with MEX as merely a way of expanding slavery Wilmot Proviso: A proposed amendment to an 1846 appropriations bill Prohibited slavery in the lands tha might be gained from war with Mexico (SECTIONALISM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

American Aggression 1.) Taylor’s forces on the Rio Grande 2.) John C. Fremont led an exploration through California According to Mexico… BOTH WERE MEXICAN TERRITORY!!

April 1846 Skirmish along the Rio Grande- 9 Americans killed Polk called on Congress to declare war Polk “American blood upon American soil” The Mexicans started it!

Opposition to the war… “President Polk had incited war by sending American soldiers into what was disputed territory, historically controlled and inhabited by Mexicans” (John Schroeder) “An aggressive, unholy, and unjust war” (Joshua Giddings)

Opposition to the war… “national crime committed in behoof of slavery, our common sin” James Russell Lowell (Abolitionist) “Mexico, the forbidden fruit; the penalty of eating it would be to subject our institutions to political death” John C. Calhoun

Congressman Abraham Lincoln- “Spot Resolution” Challenged Polk on the exact spot where American blood was shed on “American soil”

Congress voted The House vote: 174 to 14 The Senate vote: 40 to 2 THE US DECLARED WAR the first US war fought on foreign territory

Fighting the war American forces under Taylor advanced into northern Mexico. General Winfield Scott marched his forces into Mexico City. In a matter of months, U.S. forces had captured New Mexico and California. When their capital fell, the Mexican government was forced to give in.

Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo Mexico agreed to the Rio Grande border Mexican Cession: US paid MX $15 million for New Mexico, California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming “We take nothing by conquest, thank God!” Whig Intelligencer

Gadsden Purchase: 1853 purchase by the US- more land from Mexico Gadsden Purchase: 1853 purchase by the US- more land from Mexico! Established the current borders of the lower 48 states