The Mexican The Mexican American WarAmerican War

1846-18481846-1848

Polk Urges WarPolk Urges War

► Hostilities with Mexico flared again Hostilities with Mexico flared again when US annexed Texas in 1945when US annexed Texas in 1945

► Causes for Polk’s Military ActionCauses for Polk’s Military Action1.1. Issues over border of Mexico and TexasIssues over border of Mexico and Texas

2.2. President Herrera refused to meet with President Herrera refused to meet with Polk’s emissary in regard to purchasing Polk’s emissary in regard to purchasing California and New Mexico and Texas California and New Mexico and Texas border.border.

3. Domestic Dispute over 3. Domestic Dispute over Slavery Slavery

as a Causeas a Cause► Southerners wanted war to gain more land Southerners wanted war to gain more land

to:to:a)a) expand slavery expand slavery b)b) gain more slave states in Congressgain more slave states in Congress

► North wanted Congress to pass North wanted Congress to pass Wilmot Wilmot ProvisioProvisio

Proposed Amendment to military appropriations Proposed Amendment to military appropriations Bill of 1846 that prohibited slavery in lands that Bill of 1846 that prohibited slavery in lands that might be gained from Mexicomight be gained from Mexico

► Southerners felt provision was attack on Southerners felt provision was attack on slavery, pushed for war even more.slavery, pushed for war even more.

The War Begins and Lincoln The War Begins and Lincoln QuestionsQuestions

► US actions pushed Mexico US actions pushed Mexico towards wartowards war General Taylor positioned General Taylor positioned

troops at Rio Grandetroops at Rio Grande American military also in American military also in

California, a territory violationCalifornia, a territory violation

► Mexico sent troops across Rio Mexico sent troops across Rio Grande, skirmish left 11 US Grande, skirmish left 11 US troops dead.troops dead.

► Polk sent message to Congress Polk sent message to Congress declaring that “American blood declaring that “American blood upon American soil.” Wanted upon American soil.” Wanted war declared.war declared.

► Lincoln questioned the Lincoln questioned the truthfulness of this cause for truthfulness of this cause for war.war.

Was Lincoln Was Lincoln Unpatriotic?Unpatriotic?

The WarThe War

► New Mexico fell to US troops without a shot New Mexico fell to US troops without a shot firedfired

► New Mexico troops and joined forces in CA New Mexico troops and joined forces in CA to quickly win over CAto quickly win over CA US citizens already had declared independence US citizens already had declared independence

from Mexico and named themselves the BEAR from Mexico and named themselves the BEAR FLAG REPUBLICFLAG REPUBLIC

► Military victories came one after another for Military victories came one after another for the US in Mexicothe US in Mexico

Polk’s “Ally”Polk’s “Ally”

► Polk schemed with Santa Anna, who was living in Polk schemed with Santa Anna, who was living in exile in Cubaexile in Cuba

► Scheme: Polk help Santa Anna come back to power, Scheme: Polk help Santa Anna come back to power, Santa Anna would end war and establish border in Santa Anna would end war and establish border in US favorUS favor

► Santa Anna comes to power in Mexico, immediately Santa Anna comes to power in Mexico, immediately takes command of Army, ordering attack on takes command of Army, ordering attack on Taylor’s forcesTaylor’s forces

► But US forces more rested than Mexican troopsBut US forces more rested than Mexican troops

End of the WarEnd of the War

►Mexico City was captured Sept. 14, Mexico City was captured Sept. 14, 18471847

►Mexico lost 50,000 men, ½ its landMexico lost 50,000 men, ½ its land

►US lost 13,000 men (11,000 from US lost 13,000 men (11,000 from diseases)diseases)

► California and New Mexico territories added to U.S.California and New Mexico territories added to U.S.► Texas border at Rio Grande accepted Texas border at Rio Grande accepted ► Mexico gives up all claim to Texas. Mexico gives up all claim to Texas. ► U.S. pays Mexico U.S. pays Mexico

$15 million and agrees $15 million and agrees

to assume American to assume American

citizens' claims citizens' claims

($3,250,000) against ($3,250,000) against

Mexico. Mexico.

Results – Treaty of Guadalupe Results – Treaty of Guadalupe HidalgoHidalgo

Results – Gadsden Purchase Results – Gadsden Purchase

►$10 million for territory$10 million for territory► US gets territory South of the Gila RiverUS gets territory South of the Gila River

All territory for All territory for Continental US now Continental US now

CompleteComplete

► Renewal of slavery conflict Renewal of slavery conflict Wilmot Proviso sought to restrict Wilmot Proviso sought to restrict

slavery from new territories slavery from new territories Southerners (led by Calhoun) stated Southerners (led by Calhoun) stated

that Congress had no right to that Congress had no right to restrict slavery's expansion.restrict slavery's expansion.

Political cartoon depicting David Wilmot and abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison as witches.  Wilmot is chanting "Bubble Bubble Toil and Trouble, Boil Free Soil, the Union spoil"

New ProblemsNew Problems