Transcript Chapter 13: Manifest Destiny Section 3: The War

Chapter 13: Manifest Destiny
Section 3: The War with Mexico
White Americans saw all the lands west of
the Mississippi as “unoccupied”
(Even though Native Americans, Mexicans, Spanish, and Texan Tejanos lived there)
They felt it was “God’s plan that America grow
and expand and take over all of North America.”
They called this idea Manifest Destiny (8 and 10)
In 1845 the United States did admit
Texas to the Union as a slave state
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Mexico saw this as an act
of war – like the United
States stole this land
from them.
Some people call this the
Texas annexation (11)
The United States tried to
make them happy and
even offered to give
Mexico 25 million dollars
(for Texas, California, and
New Mexico) – but
Mexico said NO!!!
The United States wanted this land
(it was their “destiny” to have it)
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So they kind of set up the
Mexicans.
The U.S. put some troops
near the Rio Grande (in a
disputed area) and the
Mexicans got mad and
attacked them.
Well, to America this was
an act of war – so a war
started between Mexico
and America… so it was
called….
The Mexican – American War
The U.S. army won many battles and soon
took control of New Mexico (without firing a shot),
and then took California. One Mexican officer
even said: “God must be a Yankee (31)”
An American –
usually one who
lived in a northern
city
Fighting in Mexico against the
Mexicans was a little tougher
But eventually (on 2/2/1848) the war ended
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In the Peace Treaty: (The Treaty of
Guadalupe Hidalgo (32)):
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Mexico recognized Texas was
now a U.S. state.
The Rio Grande was the official
border between U.S. and
Mexico.
Mexico also gave up half it’s
land.
This is called:
the Mexican Cession (40)
The United States agreed to
pay Mexico 15 million dollars.
The U.S. promised to protect
Mexicans who were now living
in U.S. land
This now meant:
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Good for U.S.:
Got a lot more land.
These new people would be
able to add to the culture and
economy of the U.S.
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Bad for Mexico:
Lost half their land – and have
always been more than a little
upset about that.
Lost a lot of places that would
have been good for their
economics (farms, ranches,
mines, rivers, etc.).
Ended up a minority in their
“new “ country
The United States did end up
buying one more part of Mexico
Called the Gadsden Purchase (41)
(10 Million) for railroad land (for the transcontinental railroad)