Transcript The War with Mexico

The War with Mexico
The United States expands its territory
westward to stretch from the Atlantic to
the Pacific coast.
Spanish Texas
• The Spanish had
been in the
Americas since
Columbus in 1492.
• Spain owned a large
part of North
America, including
Texas.
Tejanos
• In 1821, only about 4,000 Tejanos lived in
Texas.
• Tejanos are people of Spanish heritage
who consider Texas their home.
• The Spanish government tried to attract
Spanish setters to Texas, but very few
came.
Moses Austin
• An American, Moses
Austin was given
permission by the
Spanish government to
start a colony in Texas.
• All the Americans had to
do was follow Spanish
laws.
• Moses died in 1821, so
his son Stephen tried to
start the colony.
In 1821, Mexico won
independence from Spain
Mexican Independence
Changes Texas
• The Mexican government
told Stephen Austin his
settlers would have to
become Mexican citizens
and members of the Roman
Catholic Church, and learn
Spanish.
• Between 1821 and 1827,
Austin attracted 297 families
to his new settlement.
• The success of Austin’s colony attracted more
land speculators and settlers to Texas from
the United States. Some were looking for a
new life, some were escaping from the law,
and others were looking for a chance to grow
rich. By 1830, the population had swelled to
about 30,000,with Americans outnumbering
the Tejanos six to one.
Rising Tensions in Texas
• In 1829, the Mexican government
outlawed slavery.
• The settlers wanted to keep their slaves so
they could grow cotton.
• The Americans also didn’t want to learn
Spanish or follow Mexican laws.
• Very few settlers had converted to
Catholicism.
• In 1829, the Mexican government closed the
state to further American immigration.
• Texans had to start paying taxes for the first time.
• Mexican president, General Antonio Lopez de
Santa Anna sent more Mexican troops to Texas.
• Texans began talk of breaking away from Mexico.
• When Stephen Austin was jailed, the Texans did
revolt.
• Santa Anna led 6,000 troops to Texas to put down
the revolt.
The Alamo
• The first battle
between the Texans
and Mexicans took
place at on old
mission that was
used as a fort.
• It was called the
Alamo.
The Fight for the Alamo
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There were only 183 Texans guarding the Alamo.
The Mexican army had 1,800 men.
The Texans held the Alamo for twelve days.
On the thirteenth day, Santa Anna ordered his men
to storm the fortress.
• When it was over, all but five Texans were dead.
The men not killed in the battle were executed by
Santa Anna.
• Texans were shocked by the slaughter at the
Alamo and vowed to fight for their freedom.
Battle at San Jacinto
• Santa Anna had over 300 more Texans executed at
Golidad.
• Texan general, Sam Houston gathered more troops, 800
in all.
• It included Tejanos, American settlers, volunteers from the
United States, and many free and enslaved African
Americans.
• They met Santa Anna at San Jacinto.
• Their battle cry was, “Remember the Alamo!”
• It was over in 18 minutes. More than half the Mexican
army was killed.
• Santa Anna was forced to sign a treaty giving Texas its
freedom. With the Battle of San Jacinto,Texas was now an
independent country.
General Santa Anna surrenders
to General Houston
Lone Star Republic
• In 1836, Texas declared itself
The Lone Star Republic.
• Sam Houston was elected
president.
• Some Americans wanted
Texas to be part of the U.S.
• Some people were afraid of
Texas becoming a slave
state, others of war with
Mexico.
• Both would eventually
happen.
Americans Support Manifest
Destiny
• Manifest Destiny—
U.S. expansion from
Atlantic, Pacific sure
to happen
• Manifest destiny
becomes U.S. policy
under President
James K. Polk
Troubles with Mexico
• U.S. Congress admits
Texas as slave state
(1846), angers Mexico
• Texas, Mexico do not
agree on official border,
U.S. diplomacy fails
• General Zachary Taylor
stations U.S. troops in
disputed region
• Action viewed by Mexico
as an act of war, Mexico
attacks U.S. patrol
• Congress declares war
on Mexico (May 1846)
Capturing New Mexico and
California
• U.S. General
Stephen Kearney,
troops enter New
Mexico
• Using persuasion,
Kearney occupies
New Mexico
without firing a shot
Bear Flag Revolt
• In California, Americans led by
John C. Fremont rebel against
Mexico
• In June 1846, rebellion known
as Bear Flag Revolt,
California declares
independence
• Arrest Mexican politician
Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo
• Write a constitution and
declare California
independent.
• U.S. troops help rebels gain
control of California
(July 1846)
The Invasion of Mexico
• General Zachary Taylor
leads U.S. troops into
Mexico from Texas
• Fights Santa Anna,
Mexican troops at Buena
Vista,15,000 vs. 5,000
Mexican troops retreat
• General Winfield Scott,
U.S. troops land in
Veracruz, Mexico (1st
amphibious landing in
U.S. history)
• Head inland to Mexico
City, fight Mexican troops,
capture Mexico City
The Mexican Cession
• War ends with the Treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo (1848)
• Mexico recognizes Texas as U.S., Rio
Grande as Mexican/U.S. border
• Mexico gives up vast region known as the
Mexican Cession:
– amounts to almost one-half of Mexico
– U.S. pays Mexico $15 million for region
“From Sea to Shining Sea”
• Mexico sells land to U.S., the Gadsden
Purchase (1853):
– costs U.S. $10 million
– includes southern New Mexico, Arizona
• In 1848, the U.S. extends from the Atlantic
to the Pacific
Growth of the Nation