US History

1. US History Chapter 12 Section 3

2. More Land • New Mexico – land between Texas and California territories • Considered Spanish property • Santa Fe – mission area set up by the Spanish • Mexico inherited the territory when they won their independence • Mexico soon allowed American traders into Santa Fe • The Santa Fe Trail – the trail from Independence, Missouri to Santa Fe • William Becknell – the first American trader to make the trip • Americans, idealized by Manifest Destiny, thought New Mexico and the Spanish California should be American

3. The West Coast • The Spanish had colonized California with missions (over 21 of them by 1820) • California – given to Mexico after independence • 1833 – Mexican government abolished missions • Ranchos – huge properties bought by settlers • Rancheros – ranch owners • Native Americans were forced to work as slaves in similar conditions as in the Southern plantations • John C. Fremont – wrote about the beauty and resources of California • Advantages = trade with Japan, access to the Pacific Ocean, fertile land • President Polk tried to buy New Mexico and California from the Mexican government; they declined

4. Get the Land by War • How to get Mexico to attack first? • Texas-Mexico border • US – Rio Grande • Mexico- Nueces River • Polk sent John Slidell to offer $30 million to recognize the Rio Grande as the boundary and pay off war debt • General Zachary Taylor – sent to stop Mexico from claim more land than it deserved • Mexican troops attacked Taylor troops • Congress approved a declaration of war against Mexico • War? – Democrats wanted war with Mexico; Whigs opposed war • Abraham Lincoln (Illinois congressman) and Frederick Douglass opposed the war • Newspapers supported the war, but anti-war sentiments grew in the North

5. Polk’s Plan • Three-Part Plan: • American troops would drive Mexican forces out of the disputed area • The United States would seize New Mexico and California • American forces would capture Mexico City • Zachary Taylor accomplished the first goal • Captured Matamoros and Monterrey • After capturing Buena Vista, the border was secure • Stephen Watts Kearny – captured Santa Fe, New Mexico without firing a shot • Bear Flag Republic – small group captured Sonoma • John C. Fremont and Kit Carson joined the Americans • Californios – Mexicans who lived in California • Navy captured ports of Monterey, San Francisco, and San Diego

6. Polk’s Plan Part 2 • With California conquered, the only part of the plan that was not accomplished was conquering Mexico City • Winfield Scott – charged to gain Mexico City • Veracruz – conquered this port after 3 weeks and continued marching to Mexico City • Forced to fight armed citizens along the way, Scott eventually conquered Mexico City • Although the US lost 1,721 men to battle, 11,000 to sickness, and $100 million, Mexico lost far more. And, Mexico lost half of its land • Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo – Mexico gave up rights to Texas • Mexican Cession – Mexico gave up California and New Mexico to the United States • Ceded - gave • 1853 – Gadsden Purchase – the US paid $10 million for Arizona and New Mexico

7. Checking for Understanding Define Match the terms on the right with their definitions on the left. __ 1. Mexican ranch owner __ 2. huge properties for raising livestock set up by Mexican settlers in California __ 3. to give up by treaty __ 4. Mexicans who lived in California A. rancho B. ranchero C. Californios D. cede B Section 3-27 A D C Click the mouse button or press the Space Bar to display the answers.