1. Chapter 12, Section 3
War with Mexico

2. The New Mexico Territory
Included all of present-day New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah and parts of Colorado and Wyoming
When Mexico gained its independence in 1821, it inherited New Mexico from Spain
The Spanish were afraid Americans might try to take the Spanish settlement of Santa Fe

3. The Santa Fe Trail
The trail left the Missouri River near Independence, Missouri
William Becknell was the first American settler to reach Santa Fe
People began heavily using the trail to get to the new land

4. The Santa Fe Trail

5. California’s Spanish Culture
The Spanish set up missions in California to colonize it and to convert Native Americans to Christianity
Many people viewed these missions as large farming communities where the Native Americans acted as slaves

6. California After 1821
After Mexico gained its independence, California became a state in Mexico
The missions were soon abolished and replaced with ranchos
The rancheros treated their Native American workers like slaves

7. Manifest Destiny and California
People had visited California many times, but now they were considering adding it to the United States
John C. Fremont, an army officer who had made several trips to California, wrote of the region’s mild climate, scenic beauty, and abundance of natural resources

8. War with Mexico
President Polk was determined to acquire New Mexico and California
The United States insisted the Rio Grande was the border between the U.S. and Mexico, while Mexico considered the Nueces River to be the border
Polk sent John Slidell to offer $30 million for California and New Mexico in return for Mexico accepting the Rio Grande as the border
In addition, the Americans would take over payments of Mexico’s debts

9. Border Dispute

10. Conflict Begins Mexico refused the offer
General Zachary Taylor (U.S.) was ordered to march his soldier into the disputed territory (between Rio Grande and Nueces)
Mexican soldiers attacked a small force of Taylor’s soldiers
Polk told Congress that Mexico had “invaded our territory and shed American blood upon the American soil.”

11. American Attitudes Toward the War
Many northerners believed expansion was just a way to expand slavery, so they opposed the war
Abraham Lincoln said that the attack had clearly taken place in Mexico and Polk had no grounds for declaring war
Frederick Douglass, an African American leader in the antislavery movement, called the war “disgraceful” and “cruel”

12. Polk’s War Plan
1. American troops would drive Mexican forces out of the disputed border region
2. The U.S. would seize New Mexico and California.
3. American forces would capture Mexico City, the capital of Mexico
Taylor easily accomplished the first goal

13. California and the Bear Flag Republic
In 1846, a group of Americans had seized the town of Sonoma, north of San Francisco, and proclaimed it the Independent Republic of California
They called it the Bear Flag Republic because its flag had a bear and a star on a white background
The Californios wanted to revolt

14. Bear Flag Republic

15. Naval Intervention
After capturing San Diego, the United States had full control of California in 1847.

16. The Capture of Mexico City
General Winfield Scott led the task of capturing Mexico City
Scott captured Veracruz after a 3 week siege, then set out to march 300 miles to the capital
The U.S. won, though the war cost them $100 million
The war cost Mexico half of its territory

17. The Peace Treaty The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Mexico gave up all claims to Texas and agreed to the Rio Grande as the border between Texas and Mexico

18. The Peace Treaty The Mexican Cession
Mexico ceded its provinces of California and New Mexico to the U.S. for $15 million

19. The Peace Treaty The Gadsden Purchase
U.S. paid Mexico $10 million for a strip of land along the southern edge of the present day states of Arizona and New Mexico. With this purchase, the U.S. mainland reached its present size.