Mexican-American War

Causes of the conflict

1. December 29, 1845, Texas formally allowed into the Union.

2. US unsuccessfully tries to buy Mexican territory. (30 million)

3. Southern boundary of the US (Nueces v. Rio Grande.

4. Manifest Destiny.5. Slavery?

It begins

• January 13, 1846, Polk sends General Taylor into Texas to set up defensive position on Rio Grande

• U.S. Navy blocked mouth of Rio Grande

• US troops attacked and “shed American blood on American soil.”

General Zachary Taylor

The fight

• War is fought in Texas and moved south.

• California is secured by Fremont. Bear Flag Republic.

• Mexico refuses to surrender until Mexico City is captured.

Interestingly interesting

• U.S.’s first foreign war.• 1st war to be photographed.• Considerable Naval action.• Robert E. Lee, Thomas J. "Stonewall"

Jackson, Braxton Bragg, Ulysses S. Grant, George Meade, George McClellan, Jefferson Davis & William T. Sherman.

• Disease killed more men than the bullets.

Storming of Chapultepec

The Hall of Montezuma

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

• Made Rio Grande as boundary of Mexico• California, Arizona, New Mexico,

Nevada, Utah, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming was given to U.S. for $15 million.

• Dispossessed thousands of Mexicans of their rightful land. Leads to decades of resentment lasting even today.

Consequences

• US gains New Mexico territory and California. (Wilmot Proviso)

• Issue of slavery is reborn with vigor.

• Training ground for the Civil War.

• Political opposition. Whigs, Civil Disobedience, religious reasons.

The San Patricios

• A question of loyalities.

• Religion, high pay & land grants.

• Over 200 served. Fifty will be hanged at the conclusion of the war.