1. 13.3
War with Mexico

2. The New Mexico Territory
New Mexico: land between Texas and California territories
Modern day New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah, parts of Colorado and Wyoming
While under Spanish control, Americans were not welcome in the Santa Fe area
Now under Mexican control, Americans were welcome…they hoped it would boost the economy through trade

3. The New Mexico Territory continued…
William Becknell: first American to reach Santa Fe, arrived in 1821, and he created the Santa Fe Trail.
Santa Fe Trail: started in Independence, Missouri, followed the Arkansas River west toward the Rockies, then turned south
Because of the Trail, more Americans moved west and trade grew
Americans began to take over New Mexico as part of American Manifest Destiny

4. California’s Spanish Culture
Spanish explorers and missionaries from Mexico settled in California in the 1700s
They began a chain of missions
Missions aimed to convert Native Americans to Christianity and spread the Spanish way of life
Missions taught Native Americans how to farm, and they worked at weaving and other crafts

5. California’s Spanish Culture (continued…)
1821: California became a Mexican state
Mexicans bought the mission lands and set up huge ranches
Native Americans worked the land in return for food and shelter
Rancheros (ranch owners) treated the Native Americans almost like slaves
1840s Americans reached California
Americans wanted to add California to the Union so that they would be safely bordered by the Pacific Ocean and not a foreign country

6. Conflict Begins
President James K. Polk wanted to acquire California and New Mexico
Mexico refused to sell the lands and Polk planned to gain the lands through war
Polk needed Mexico to strike first to justify the war
United States and Mexico were not friendly
The two countries argued about where the border was
United States said that the Rio Grande formed the border
Mexico claimed the border lay along the Nueces River (150 miles north of the Rio)

7. Conflict Begins continued…
United States offered $30 million for California, New Mexico, and the border was the Rio Grande
Mexico refused and declared that they intended to reclaim Texas
Polk ordered General Zachary Taylor to lead troops into the area on the Rio Grande
Mexico saw this as an invasion and attacked on April 25, 1846
May 13, 1846 Congress declares war on Mexico

8. A War Plan Polk’s three point plan to win the war
U.S. would drive Mexican forces out of Texas
U.S. would seize New Mexico and California
American forces would advance into Mexico and capture Mexico City
By 1847, Taylor had accomplished goal #1
Taylor’s second goal was accomplished rather easily
September 1847, Taylor’s third goal was accomplished when the U.S. troops captured Mexico’s capital

9. California Uprising
June 14, 1846 Americans living in California declared California independent
It was easy for Americans to rise up against the weak Mexican presence in California
California is renamed Bear Flag Republic
Bear Flag Republic did not last long
Within a month American ships arrived and claimed the republic for the U.S.

10. Peace Terms
February 2, 1848 Mexican leaders signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Mexico gave the U.S. more than 500,000 square miles
Mexico accepted the Rio Grande as its border with Texas
U.S. paid Mexico $15 million and assumed $3.25 million in debts owed to Americans