The Mexican American War (1846-1848)

1. The Mexican American War (1846-1848)

2. President James K. Polk • This Democrat from Tennessee wins the election of 1844 (defeating Henry Clay) with a platform supporting the goals of Manifest Destiny. • He sent John Slidell (Spanish speaking Ambassador) to Mexico to find a diplomatic solution to the Texas border question and offered $25 million for the California territory.

3. Mexican Reaction • Mexican President, Mariano Parades refused to see Slidell. • After the US annexes Texas, Mexico breaks off diplomatic relations with the United States.

4. Outbreak of War • In April 1846, Mexican soldiers crossed the Rio Grande River and attacked a small American cavalry unit. According to the Mexican point of view, this was Mexican territory. • The United States disagreed & on May 13th, Congress declared war.

5. Sectionalism: Americans Debate War • Supporters:Western states and Southern states. Supporting for geographical reasons and extension of slavery. • Opponents:Northerners. Questioned Polk’s declaration of war. Anti-slavery groups also opposed this war.

6. Map of War Strategy • General Zachary Taylor invaded northern Mexico. • General Stephen Kearny traveled west and captured Santa Fe, and supported revolt in California. • Bear Flag Revolt – Americans, led by John Fremont, rebelled against Mexican rule in California. • General Winfield Scott invaded Mexico City (through Gulf of Mexico)

7. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) • The United States gained full title to Texas with the Rio Grande as the southern border of Texas. • The U.S. gained California and the New Mexico territory including present day Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and parts of Colorado. • The U.S. paid $15 million for California and New Mexico and agreed to pay Mexican debts totaling 3.25 million dollars. • In 1853, the United States purchased the southern portion of New Mexico in the Gadsden Purchase for $10 million dollars enabling the U.S. to have flat land for a connecting railroad. • Once the United States gained control of these areas, populations grew with new settlers flooding west.

8. Before the Rush • Californios – settlers of Mexican/Spanish descent • Mariano Vallejo – Californio land owner • John Sutter – owned mill in Sacramento Valley • John Marshall – builds Sutter’s mill on the American River - GOLD

9. Gold Rush How to Get There • 18,000 Mile sail around South America • Isthmus of Panama • Oregon/California Trail Mining Camps • Tents along the Sierra Nevada mountains • Rough, violent places • 2/3 American • 1/3 – Chinese, South Americans, freed slaves

10. Impact of Gold Rush • 250,000 people move to Ca • San Francisco becomes a port city – with many different ethnicities • Californios & Native Americans – have property seized • 1850 – California becomes a FREE state

11. Manifest Destiny • Manifest Destinyis a nineteenth-century belief that the U.S. had a mission to expand westward across the North American continent, spreading its form of democracy, freedom and culture • The expansion was deemed to be not only good, but also obvious ("manifest") and certain ("destiny"). • Many believed the mission to be divinely inspired

12. American Progress