1. The Mexican American War
Day 2

2. TN READY REVIEW
What was the GREATEST source of conflict between the Native Americans and the European settlers?
The division of food
The ownership of land
The development of trade
The ownership of weapons
2. Many Native American cultures were nomadic. What does nomadic mean?
Relying on hunting
Hostile to outsiders
Planters and farmers
Moving from place to place

3. TN READY REVIEW
3. During the colonial era, a system emerged where workers agreed to work for a master for 4-7 years in exchange for passage, room, board, and lodging. This system was known as
Slavery
Mercantilism
Sharecropping
Indentured servitude
4. The “Middle Passage” referred to
The creation of the Panama Canal in Central America
The transportation of slaves from Africa to the New World
Lewis and Clark’s expedition into the Louisiana Territory
The best route over the Rocky Mountains to get to California

4. Review: Polk’s Presidency
“Dark Horse” Nomination- Polk was an underdog in this election. He was his party’s 9th choice, but ends up winning the election
Settling the Oregon Boundary- Polk used the slogan “54-40 or fight” to help him get into office. He argued that our border should be farther north or we would fight Britain.

5. Review: Polk’s Presidency
The Annexation of Texas: Despite the issues of adding Texas to the United States (would it be a slave state or not), Polk believes strongly in Manifest Destiny and adds Texas as a slave state.
Acquisition of California: Polk tried to buy both New Mexico and California, but Mexico refused to sell it. Eventually, we win these territories through war.

6. Review: Why War? Annexation of Texas angered Mexican government.
U.S. and Mexico disagreed about border of Texas.
U.S. thought boundary was Rio Grande River.
Mexico thought boundary was Nueces River.

7. Review: Why War?
Polk planned to defeat Mexico by the following 3 goals:
1. U.S. would drive Mexican forces out of Texas
2. It would seize New Mexico and California
3. American forces would advance into Mexico and capture the capital, Mexico City.

8. The U. S. and Texas considered the Rio Grande as the Southern border
The U.S. and Texas considered the Rio Grande as the Southern border. For Mexico it was the Nueces
Area in Dispute
8.6 D  The students will explain the major issues and events of the Mexican War and their impact on the United States
Nueces River
Rio Grande River

9. Slidell’s Mission
1) Get Mexican recognition of the Rio Grande as the border between Mexico and the United States
2) To forgive about $4.5 million owed to U.S. citizens by Mexico from the Mexican War of Independence
3) To discuss the purchase of the New Mexico and California
The Mexican government refused to talk with Slidell which angered the U.S.

10. Presidents Polk’s Response
President Polk asked for a declaration of war before a joint session of the United States Congress, summing up the need for war by famously stating:
"American blood has been shed on American soil".
Congress declared war on Mexico, despite protests by the Mexican government that Thornton had crossed the border into Mexican Texas — a border that Mexico claimed as the Nueces River. the ensuing Mexican-American War was waged from and witnessed the loss of many thousands of lives and nearly half of the territory of Mexico.

11. US Problems with Mexico 1) Americans had a negative view of Mexico because of the Texas Revolution 2) Mexico owed the U.S. money for the Mexican Revolution against Spain
Mexican Problems with US.
1) Mexico felt that Texas was being stolen from them.
2) Mexico didn’t believe in Manifest Destiny and didn’t want to give away their land.

12. The War Begins
After the annexation of Texas in 1844, it was only a matter of time before war between Texas and the United States would happen.
The war began in June of 1845.
President Polk sent general Zachary Taylor to Texas to protect the American border with Mexico.

13. General Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana

14. General Zachary Taylor

15. Zachary Taylor: US Army General
Polk sent him to disputed border
He wins battles along the border
Moves to and conquers Monterrey, MX
Holds position and defends northern MX
Taylor, with only 5,000 soldiers defeated General Santa Anna’s army of 20,000 at the Battle of Buena Vista

16. Winfield Scott: US Army General
With Taylor at Monterrey, Scott took most of Taylor’s army and extra replacements
Scott proposed a bold plan to land an army at Vera Cruz and to march overland to capture Mexico City.
Polk agreed, and Scott’s campaign succeeded brilliantly and won the war.

17. Disputed Land Polk sent Zachary Taylor to occupy disputed land.
He knew what he was doing- he wanted to start the war!

18. Mexico City
Scott’s army needed 3 weeks to defeat the army at Vera Cruz.
Traveled 300 miles to Mexico City.
Scott captures Mexico City.

20. War of Aggression
President Polk sent General Taylor to the area that the U.S. considered it’s border.
Predictably, Taylor’s troops were attacked by the Mexican army.
Polk had what he wanted, a war with Mexico.

21. Polk’s message to Congress
“...after reiterated menaces, Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon the American soil. She has proclaimed that hostilities have commenced, and that the two nations are now at war...I invoke the prompt action of Congress to recognize the existence of the war, and to place it at the disposal of the Executive the means of prosecuting the war with vigor...”

22. Political Opposition to War
Many members of Congress opposed the war with Mexico.
Some felt that the president had forced the U.S. into the war, which was wrong because only Congress can approve war.
Others just thought it was wrong to take any territory from Mexico.

23. U.S. has huge technological advantage
Artillery - superior large guns and better ammunition
better rifles and handguns, including the colt revolver
telegraph = better communications

24. U.S. has a huge population and economic advantage
U.S million people
Mexico - 7 million people
U.S. - growing economy
Mexico - in debt (and poor leadership)

25. Deaths during the war
One out of ten American soldiers died in less than two years of service
Disease accounted for 7/8 of the deaths.
Crowded, unsanitary conditions and impure water led to dysentery, lice, and other diseases that spread rapidly.
12,518 American soldiers died during the war.

26. Map of Mexican War Battles

27. U.S. army goes all the way to Mexico City
As you saw on the preceding map, the U.S army went all the way to Mexico City. Once this happened, Mexico had no choice but to surrender.

28. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed ending the war.

29. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
US gets the modern day states of California, Nevada, and Utah (and parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming.
Rio Grande is official border
US pays Mexico $15 million and forgave some debts

30. The Mexican Cession

31. Mexican Cession
Cession = the formal giving up of rights, property, or territory.
This is the name given to the outcome of the war. Mexico gave up much of its land in North America.

32. Mexican Cession
Mexico had to give up a great deal of land at the conclusion of the war.
This territory included all of the present- day states of California, Nevada, and Utah and also parts of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

33. Manifest Destiny
With Oregon and the former Mexican territories added to the U.S., the dream of Manifest Destiny was realized.
We spread from coast to coast!

34. Gadsden Purchase
1853 agreement to buy a strip of land in what is now the southern United States. So that a railroad line could be built to the Gulf of California. It cost $10 million.

35. Territorial Expansion

36. Future Issues: Would slavery be allowed in the new territories?
This would be a question that would have to be answered.

37. Mexican American War- 2 Viewpoints
From “’Apuntes’ and the Lessons of History”
1. What did these writers see as short term effects of the was for both countries?
2. How did Jesus Velasco-Marguez, the writer, feel about the war?
From “The War Between the US & Mexico”
3. Robert Miller says that some of the “unpleasant acts of the war were offset” by what the U.S. got out of the war. What are some of the positive outcomes for the US?
4. How did the war affect Mexico as a nation? Give two examples.
Compare/Contrast
5. In your opinion, was the war worth it? Why or Why not?