War with Mexico

An armed conflict between the United States and Mexico between 1846 and 1848.

The conflict occurred due to a dispute over the border between Texas and Mexico.- The U.S. claimed the border was the Rio Grande.- Mexico claimed the border was the Nueces River.

This created a disputed zone claimed by both countries.

War with Mexico

President James Polk was very interested in gaining the Mexican land to the west. He offered Mexico $30 million, but was rejected. He needed a war, but didn’t have support from the public or Congress. What did he do?

Polk sent General Zachary Taylor into the disputed territory.- The U.S. believed they were defending their land.- Mexico believed they were invaded.

Polk

Taylor

War with Mexico

In response, Mexican General (and part-time president) Santa Anna sent troops to defend their land. He crossed the Rio Grande and attacked an American force, killing 11 U.S. soldiers.

President Polk informed Congress that the U.S. had been “invaded” and “attacked” by Mexico. The incident was called the Thornton Affair.

- Congress declared war 3 weeks later (May 13, 1846)

Polk

Taylor Santa Anna

War with Mexico

The U.S. strategy had 3 major parts:1. Capture northwest Mexico (aka SW U.S.)2. Capture northeast Mexico3. Capture Mexico city.

War with MexicoPart 1:

U.S. Captain John Fremont and General Stephen Kearney captured California in the “Bear Flag Revolt”. Very few large battles.

Kearney died shortly after the war. Fremont ran for President as a Republican, but lost to Buchanan.

Fremont

Kearny

War with MexicoPart 2:

Zachary Taylor invaded northern Mexico. He was victorious in every major battle, including Monterrey and Buena Vista.

The Battle of Buena Vista would create two presidents: Zachary Taylor and Jefferson Davis.

Taylor

Battle of Monterrey

Battle of Buena Vista

War with MexicoPart 3:

U.S. General Winfield Scott led his troops through Veracruz and captured Mexico City.

Among his soldiers were Ulysses Grant, Robert E. Lee, George Meade, Thomas Jackson.

Siege of Veracruz

Capture of Mexico City

Scott

War with MexicoTreaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo

- Ended the war in 1848.- Gave the U.S. undisputed control of Texas.

- Established the Rio Grande as the international border.- Gave the U.S. the land of Mexican Cession (includes present day states of

California, Nevada, and Utah. Also parts of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Wyoming.) The U.S. paid $18 million for the land.

War with MexicoResults of the War

- Mexico lost 55% of its land, but only 1% of its population.- Mexico had 9 different Presidents during this war.- Santa Anna served 6 years as President of Mexico:

- May 16, 1833 – June 3, 1833- June 18, 1833 – July 5, 1833- October 27, 1833 – December 15, 1833- April 24, 1834 – January 27, 1835- March 20, 1839 – July 10, 1839- October 10, 1841 – October 26, 1842- March 4, 1843 – October 4, 1843- June 4, 1844 – September 12, 1844- March 21, 1847 – April 2, 1847- May 20, 1847 – September 15, 1847- April 20, 1853 – August 9, 1855

War with MexicoResults of the War

- Mexico lost 55% of its land, but only 1% of its population.- Mexico had 9 different Presidents during this war.- One year after war, gold was found in California.

- Classroom for Civil War. (Lee, Grant, Longstreet, Meade, Jackson, Burnside, McClellan). U.S. lost very few battles.

- Gadsden Purchase- Manifest Destiny complete.