1. The War with Mexico Chapter 9.4

3. Polk Urges War US and Mexico were hostile due to the Texas Revolution in 1836. Instability in the Mexican government and James K Polk's territorial aspiration increased tensions. Polk wanted war to acquire California and New Mexico in the union and to fight for the southern border to extend to the Rio Grande.

4. Slidell's Rejection 1844- Santa Anna ousted as president 1845 "Polk the Purposeful" sent a Spanish speaking emissary John Slidell to Mexico to extend to the Rio Grande and to acquire New Mexico and California, assuming Mexico would say no sparking war.

5. Mexico did indeed say no and the US marched to the Rio Grande under General Zachary Taylor and blockaded the river. Many supported Polk but people were split on military action

6. Sectional Attitudes Towards War Many believed this was not about expanding land but expanding slavery. The north for the most part were against war where the south was for it.

7. The War Begins 1845-1846 Taylor Positioned his troops at the Rio Grande. John C Fremont led an exploration party through Mexico's Alta California province which was another violation of Mexico's territorial rights and the Mexican government was fed up.

8. Mexico sent troops across the Rio Grande and in a skirmish near Matamoros Mexican soldiers killed 9 US soldiers.

10. Representative Abraham Lincoln questioned Polk's war message to congress which stated by shedding "American blood on American soil” Mexico had started the war. Lincoln wanted a "Spot Resolution" asking Polk to certify the spot where the skirmish occurred.

11. The message persuaded Congress to go to war with a vote of 174-14. Polk withheld facts making the full reality of the event unclear but manifest destiny sent the US into it's first foreign territory for war.

12. Kearny Marches West Polk ordered Colonel Stephen Kearny in 1846 to march from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas across the desert to Santa Fe in an effort to seize Mexico and California. He crossed 800 miles giving him the name "the Long Marcher". New Mexico fell to the US without a shot being fired. Kearney dispatched some of his troops south to Mexico and led the rest to Southern California.

13. The Republic of California By the late 1830s about 12,000 Mexican settlers had migrated to California to set up cattle ranchers pressing Native Americans into service. By the mid 1840's about 500 US settlers also lived in California.

14. Polk offered to buy California in 1845 and a group of American settlers led by Fremont seized the town of Sonoma

15. June 1846 hoisting a flag with a grizzly bear on it and declared independence from Mexico proclaiming it the Republic of California. The Mexican troops quickly gave way leaving the US forces in control of California.

16. The War With Mexico 1/2 American troops were succeeding battle after battle because of poor Mexican leadership. Captain Robert E. Lee and Captain Ulysses S. Grant both very able leaders. Rough leaders such as Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott (old rough and ready). Polk made a plan with Santa Anna who fled to Cuba that if Santa Anna helped, Polk would sneak him back into Mexico that he would help end the war and mediate the border. After Polk helped Santa Anna get back he became Mexican president again and in February 1847 ordered an attack at Buena Vista.

17. The War With Mexico 2/2 Mexican troops were large but exhausted which hurt them. Winfield Scott eventually led his troops into Mexico City on September 14, 1847 and captured the city. Winfield Scott did not lose a single battle in the war.

18. America Gains the Spoils of War Mexican American War: –25,000 Mexican casualties –13,000 American casualties –1/3 more US territory

19. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo February 2, 1848 US and Mexico signed the treaty ceding New Mexico, and California America. Also it stated the Rio Grande would be the border south. $15 million for what is now California, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and most of Arizona.

20. Gadsen Purchase Another $10 million spent by President Franklin Pierce five years later for the Gadsen Purchase establishing the official land at the south side of the lower 48 states.

23. Taylor’s Election in 1848 The Whig Party nominated Zachary Taylor and eventually gets the victory being remembered as a war hero.

24. The California Gold Rush January 1848 James Marshall an American carpenter discovers a gold nugget on a farm

25. The Rush Begins Soon people start to rush to the Sacramento Valley looking for gold leaving houses unfinished and fields half-plowed. 1848- 400 people lived in California, by 1850 44,000 lived in California. The 49-ers were mostly those from Asia, South America and Europe.

27. Impact of Gold Fever San Francisco began to boom, clogging up the harbors with a forest of masts.

28. Gold Rush Brings Diversity 1849 California’s population reached over 100,000 with the Chinese being the largest group. Many free blacks were living in California and some were becoming very wealthy. Mexicans were also a big part of the population and slavery was outlawed. California after much fighting becomes a state in 1850.