Conflict with Mexico

Stephen Austin owned land in Texas, passed down from his father He led a group of 300 Americans to Texas to start a small colony Americans were told they could stay IF they agreed to become Mexican citizens and worship in the Roman Catholic Church

Growing Conflict Thousands more flooded into Texas Disregarded Mexican law Brought slaves and were Protestants 1830 Mexico banned further U.S. settlement and tried to enforce its laws Began to levy heavy taxes on U.S. imports

Declaring Independence In Mexico there was a movement for a more democratic government 1833 General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna took control of government Over turned constitution and began a dictatorship (one person rule)

1836, under urging of Austin, Texans declared independence from Mexico

What Did Mexicans Want? What did the Americans want?

Texans at war Santa Anna attacked the Alamo, a mission where Texans and Mexican Texans (Tejanos) were gathered The Texans and Tejanos held out for 12 days under heavy cannon fire before Mexican forces overran it

All the defenders killed in battle or executed afterwards Inspired by their bravery, many American volunteers joined the Texan Army

Later Sam Houston, commander of the Texan Army led a surprise attack on Santa Anna at San Jacinto Captured Santa Anna and forced him to recognize Texan independence

The Republic of Texas

Annexing Texas and Oregon Election of 1844 Election was between Henry Clay (Whig) and James K. Polk Polk won by promising to annex Texas and Oregon

Annexation Before Polk took office President Tyler called for admission of Texas as state As President, Polk negotiated a treaty with Britain to divide Oregon (Now states of Washington, Oregon, and parts of Idaho)

Tensions with Mexico Mexico had never formally recognized Texan independence Treaty Santa Anna signed set boundary at Rio Grande Mexican government claimed boundary was further north

Beginnings of the Mexican-American War Polk offered Mexican government cash to settle the border dispute, purchase California and the rest of New Mexico This angered Mexico and they refused Polk then tried to provoke the Mexicans Sent General Zachary Taylor into the disputed land Mexicans ambushed them and Polk asked Congress for a declaration of war

The Mexican- American War

Causes of the MAW

The Mexican American War War with Mexico popular with most Americans Support was strongest among Westerners and Southerners who wanted more land ne_flash.html

Why would Southerners want more land? How would the belief in “Manifest Destiny” make people support the war? Why would Westerners want more land?

Many Northerners argued that Polk had provoked the war How had Polk “provoked” the war?

Rebellion in California Polk ordered troop under the command of Stephen Kearny to invade and capture Santa Fe, New Mexico Settlers near San Francisco had begun their own revolt against Mexico

They raised a grizzly bear flag and declared California an independent republic John C. Fremont took control of the “Bear Flag Rebellion” Quickly captured major cities of California (Monterey and San Francisco)

He then moved on to join forces with U.S. troops under the command of Kearny Kearny’s troops captured Santa Fe and San Diego United with naval units to occupy all of southern California

Invasion of Mexico General Zachary Taylor and General Winfield Scott swept through Mexico with stunning victories even though they were often outnumbered How do you think they still won?

Scott’s campaign ended at Chapultepec, a stone palace above the capital of Mexico City The Mexican troops fought bravely to defend Chapultepec, but most were killed How is this similar to the American experience at the Alamo? After Americans won the capital city, Santa Anna fled The U.S. had won the war

Achieving Manifest Destiny The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo Under the treaty, Mexico recognized the annexation of Texas and gave the U.S. large amounts of territory Mexican Cession included present day California, Nevada, Utah and parts of Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico U.S. also paid $15 million for this land

In the Gadsden Purchase of 1853, U.S. paid Mexico $10 million for a narrow strip of present day Arizona and New Mexico

Effects of the MAW

The Mexican Cession

How did Each Person Help bring Mexican land under u.s. control? A. General Kearny B. General Zachary Taylor C. General Winfield Scott D. John Fremont E. President Tyler F. President Polk G. Stephen Austin H. Sam Houston