Transcript Mexico broke away from Spain War of Independence- 1810

 Mexico broke away from Spain
• War of Independence- 1810- 1821
• Similar to American Revolution in many ways
 Texas territory was undeveloped- not
being utilized
• 1823- Mexican authorities issue the General
Colonization Law- encouraging American
colonists to settle Texas
• Stephen Austin- accepted a grant and settled a
large area
• By 1830- 30,000 Americans lived in Mexico- in
some areas outnumbering Mexicans 10 to 1
 Mexico begins limiting immigration
• Worried about slavery issue- Americans
bringing their slaves into Texas territory
• Failure- to follow Mexican laws- religion
• American influence might lead to loss of
territory
 General
Antonio Santa Anna becomes
President, and then dictator of Mexico in
1834, throwing out the Mexican
Constitution
Texans rebel against new government
limitations- Santa Anna leads an army north to
stop rebellion
 The Alamo- a fort outside San Antonio- well
armed with cannons and artillery, but few men
 1,800 Mexican troops vs 186 Texans

• Including Davy Crockett- frontiersman from Tennessee
After 13 Days, Texans completely overrun and
killed
 Has become a compelling American symbol of
fighting against all odds
 http://www.history.com/topics/davycrockett/videos#the-alamo

 April
1836- After the Alamo, with nearly 800
men, Sam Houston defeats and captures
Santa Anna, forcing him to sign a treaty that
gives Texas its independence
 May 1836- Texans call a convention and,
unhappy with Mexican government’s
decisions, declare Texas an independent
nation- creating the Republic of Texas
 October 1836- Sam Houston elected as first
President of the Republic of Texas
 Martin Van
Buren elected in 1837- focused
mainly on handling financial situation
created by Jackson destroying the 2nd
National Bank
• Blocked Texas admission to the Union, afraid of
expanding slavery
 William
Henry Harrison elected in
1841”Tippecanoe and Tyler Too!”- died 32
days later from pneumonia, first president to
die in office
 VP John Tyler becomes President
 At
the end of Tyler’s administration, after
the election of James K. Polk, Texas is
admitted to the Union as a state in 1845
• Sets up war with Mexico as an inevitability for
the Polk administration
 Mexico
cuts diplomatic relations
 Polk sends ships into the Gulf and sends
troops to the coast at Corpus Christi
 Some
diplomatic talks over purchasing
Texas, New Mexico and California
 Mexico was outraged at annexing Texas,
unwilling to talk about other territory
 Border clash between American forces
(lead by Zachary Taylor) and Mexican
forces at the Rio Grande- American loss
 Saw this as Mexico invading the US since
it crossed the river- declared war
 Many
American victories- New Mexico
and California both declared American
territory
 Mexico still unwilling to negotiate
 Americans march on the capital city, and
raise the American flag over Mexico City
in 1847- “the halls of Montezuma”
 However, Mexico refused to surrender
 Increasing
internal division within
America on the War
 February 1848- Treaty of GuadalupeHidalgo signed
• Mexico gave up California, Nevada, Utah, New
Mexico, and parts of Arizona, Colorado, Kansas,
and Wyoming to the United States for $15 million
and the assumption of $3.25 million in debts
owed to Americans by Mexico.