Transcript File

The Mexican American War
Day 2
TN READY REVIEW
1.
a.
What was the
GREATEST source
of conflict between
the Native
Americans and the
European settlers?
The division of food
2. Many Native
American cultures were
nomadic. What does
nomadic mean?
a.
Relying on hunting
b.
Hostile to outsiders
Planters and farmers
b.
The ownership of land
c.
c.
The development of trade
d.
d.
The ownership of weapons
Moving from place to
place
TN READY REVIEW
3. During the colonial
era, a system emerged
4. The “Middle Passage” referred
where workers agreed to to
work for a master for 4-7
a.
The creation of the Panama
years in exchange for
Canal in Central America
passage, room, board,
b.
The transportation of slaves
and lodging. This system
from Africa to the New World
was known as
c.
Lewis and Clark’s expedition
a.
Slavery
b.
Mercantilism
c.
Sharecropping
d.
Indentured servitude
into the Louisiana Territory
d.
The best route over the Rocky
Mountains to get to California
Review: Polk’s Presidency
• “Dark Horse” Nomination- Polk was an
underdog in this election. He was his party’s
9th choice, but ends up winning the election
• Settling the Oregon Boundary- Polk used the
slogan “54-40 or fight” to help him get into
office. He argued that our border should be
farther north or we would fight Britain.
Review: Polk’s Presidency
• The Annexation of Texas: Despite the issues of
adding Texas to the United States (would it be
a slave state or not), Polk believes strongly in
Manifest Destiny and adds Texas as a slave
state.
• Acquisition of California: Polk tried to buy both
New Mexico and California, but Mexico
refused to sell it. Eventually, we win these
territories through war.
Review: Why War?
• Annexation of Texas angered Mexican
government.
• U.S. and Mexico disagreed about border of
Texas.
• U.S. thought boundary was Rio Grande River.
• Mexico thought boundary was Nueces River.
Review: Why War?
• Polk planned to defeat Mexico by the following
3 goals:
– 1. U.S. would drive Mexican forces out of Texas
– 2. It would seize New Mexico and California
– 3. American forces would advance into Mexico and
capture the capital, Mexico City.
The U.S. and Texas considered the Rio Grande as the
Southern border. For Mexico it was the Nueces
Area in Dispute
Nueces River
Rio Grande River
Slidell’s Mission
1) Get Mexican recognition of the Rio Grande as
the border between Mexico and the United
States
2) To forgive about $4.5 million owed to U.S.
citizens by Mexico from the Mexican War of
Independence
3) To discuss the purchase of the New Mexico
and California
• The Mexican government refused to talk with
Slidell which angered the U.S.
Presidents Polk’s
Response
• President Polk asked for a declaration of war before a joint
session of the United States Congress, summing up the need
for war by famously stating:
– "American blood has been shed on American soil".
• Congress declared war on Mexico, despite protests by the
Mexican government that Thornton had crossed the border
into Mexican Texas — a border that Mexico claimed as the
Nueces River. the ensuing Mexican-American War was waged
from 1846-1848 and witnessed the loss of many thousands of
lives and nearly half of the territory of Mexico.
US Problems with
Mexico
1) Americans had a
negative view of
Mexico because of
the Texas
Revolution
2) Mexico owed the
U.S. money for the
Mexican Revolution
against Spain
Mexican Problems with
US.
1) Mexico felt that Texas
was being stolen from
them.
2) Mexico didn’t believe
in Manifest Destiny and
didn’t want to give
away their land.
The War Begins
After the annexation of Texas in 1844, it
was only a matter of time before war
between Texas and the United States
would happen.
The war began in June of 1845.
President Polk sent general Zachary
Taylor to Texas to protect the American
border with Mexico.
General Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana
General Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor: US Army General
•
Polk sent him to disputed border
•
He wins battles along the border
•
Moves to and conquers Monterrey, MX
•
Holds position and defends northern MX
•
Taylor, with only 5,000 soldiers defeated General
Santa Anna’s army of 20,000 at the Battle of
Buena Vista
Winfield Scott: US Army General
•
•
•
With Taylor at Monterrey, Scott took most of
Taylor’s army and extra replacements
Scott proposed a bold plan to land an army at
Vera Cruz and to march overland to capture
Mexico City.
Polk agreed, and Scott’s campaign succeeded
brilliantly and won the war.
Disputed Land
•
•
Polk sent Zachary Taylor to occupy
disputed land.
He knew what he was doing- he wanted to
start the war!
Mexico City
•
Scott’s army needed 3 weeks to defeat the
army at Vera Cruz.
•
Traveled 300 miles to Mexico City.
•
Scott captures Mexico City.
War of Aggression
President Polk sent General Taylor to the
area that the U.S. considered it’s border.
Predictably, Taylor’s troops were attacked
by the Mexican army.
Polk had what he wanted, a war with
Mexico.
Polk’s message to Congress
“...after reiterated menaces, Mexico has
passed the boundary of the United States, has
invaded our territory and shed American
blood upon the American soil. She has
proclaimed that hostilities have commenced,
and that the two nations are now at war...I
invoke the prompt action of Congress to
recognize the existence of the war, and to
place it at the disposal of the Executive the
means of prosecuting the war with vigor...”
Political Opposition to War
Many members of Congress opposed the
war with Mexico.
Some felt that the president had forced
the U.S. into the war, which was wrong
because only Congress can approve war.
Others just thought it was wrong to take
any territory from Mexico.
U.S. has huge technological advantage
Artillery - superior
large guns and better
ammunition
better rifles and
handguns, including
the colt revolver
telegraph = better
communications
U.S. has a huge population and
economic advantage
U.S. - 17 million people
Mexico - 7 million people
U.S. - growing economy
Mexico - in debt (and poor leadership)
Deaths during the war
One out of ten American soldiers died in
less than two years of service
Disease accounted for 7/8 of the deaths.
Crowded, unsanitary conditions and
impure water led to dysentery, lice, and
other diseases that spread rapidly.
12,518 American soldiers died during the
war.
Map of Mexican War Battles
U.S. army goes all the way to Mexico City
As you saw on the preceding map, the
U.S army went all the way to Mexico
City. Once this happened, Mexico had no
choice but to surrender.
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed
ending the war.
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
•
•
•
US gets the modern day states of California,
Nevada, and Utah (and parts of Arizona, New
Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming.
Rio Grande is official border
US pays Mexico $15 million and forgave some
debts
The Mexican Cession
Mexican Cession
•
•
Cession = the formal giving up of rights, property,
or territory.
This is the name given to the outcome of the war.
Mexico gave up much of its land in North
America.
Mexican Cession
Mexico had to give up a great deal of land
at the conclusion of the war.
This territory included all of the presentday states of California, Nevada, and
Utah and also parts of Arizona, Colorado,
New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
Manifest Destiny
•
•
With Oregon and the former Mexican
territories added to the U.S., the dream of
Manifest Destiny was realized.
We spread from coast to coast!
Gadsden Purchase
1853 agreement to buy a strip of land in what
is now the southern United States. So that a
railroad line could be built to the Gulf of
California. It cost $10 million.
Territorial Expansion
Future Issues:
Would slavery be allowed in the new
territories?
This would be a question that would have
to be answered.
Mexican American War- 2 Viewpoints
• From “’Apuntes’ and the Lessons of History”
– 1. What did these writers see as short term effects of the was
for both countries?
– 2. How did Jesus Velasco-Marguez, the writer, feel about the
war?
• From “The War Between the US & Mexico”
– 3. Robert Miller says that some of the “unpleasant acts of the
war were offset” by what the U.S. got out of the war. What are
some of the positive outcomes for the US?
– 4. How did the war affect Mexico as a nation? Give two
examples.
• Compare/Contrast
– 5. In your opinion, was the war worth it? Why or Why not?