1. War With Mexico

2. Causes of the War Polk’s desire to expand the borders of the US
Mexico’s refusal to sell California & New Mexico
Texas boundary dispute – Nueces River vs. Rio Grande
John Fremont’s independent incursion into California
Border incident – Taylor’s forces blockade Rio Grande
Provocation ? Or attack by Mexico?

3. Major Players
11th President James K. Polk Favored war to bring Texas, New Mexico & California into union Generals Zachary Taylor, ‘Rough & Ready’ Winfield Scott, ‘Fuss & Feathers’ Won almost every battle vs. Mexicans that they fought. Led invasions of Eastern Mexico & Scott pushed to Mexico City. Politicians South wants War to gain land to expand slavery North opposes – Passes Wilmot Proviso prohibiting slavery in land won from Mexico in the war

4. Political Situation Pres. Polk tries to buy TX, NM, & CA
Mexico weakened by leadership changes
General Herrera replaces Santa Ana as President – NO SALE
Polk favors war to take the land
Disputes the border of Texas & Mexico – Nueces vs. Rio Grande rivers

5. Political Situation North opposes war – fears expansion of slavery
North sponsored “Wilmot Proviso” states any land from war would have no slavery.
South opposes war but wants land and favors it after the “Wilmot Proviso” proposed.
Polk sends troops to ‘see what will happen’

6. Generals and Major Battles

7. Results of the War Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
- Rio Grande River becomes US border
- New Mexico & California Ceded to US
- Mexico gets $15 Million as compensation
- Size of US increases by about 33%
Gadsden Purchase
- Enabled in 1853 by Pres. Pierce’s emissary James Gadsden
- Made in anticipation of a railroad across the south.
- Finalized the southern border of present day US.

8. California Here I Come!
On January 24, 1848, James Marshall found this tiny piece of gold in a stream near John Sutter's sawmill in northern California.

12. This map shows some of the important mines of the gold rush.
Gold Rush of 1849
Major
Gold
Strikes
1848
In 1852 the take for the year was $80 million ($1.9 billion in 2005 dollars).
This map shows some of the important mines of the gold rush.

13. Two miners on Weber Creek gathered $17,000 in gold in seven days;
six miners with 50 Indians took out 273 pounds of gold.