The Mexican American War (April 25th, 1846 – February 2nd, 1848)

Polk Urges War

“Polk the Purposeful” favors war with MX Believes US will get TX, NM and CA

Sends John Slidell to discuss CA and NM purchase

MX refuses to let him in; Polk sends Zachary Taylor to blockade Rio Grande River

MX see this as violation of their rights

Slavery Dominates Debate

South wants war to extend slavery and inc. power in Congress

Norths opposes war, fears spread of slavery and Southern control of Congress

Wilmot Proviso: bans slavery in land gained from MX; fails 3 times by South led Senate

Shows tensions between N and S

David Wilmot

Polk Provokes War

Repeated violations by USA forces MX to take action

In response to John Fremont exploring CA, MX sends troops across Rio Grande and killed 9 US soldiers

Lincoln questions Polk's response with “Spot Resolution”, questioning events

Polk sends war message to Congress and is approved 174-14 in the House and 40-2 in Senate

John C. Fremont

The War Begins! Stephen Kearny marches to NM; no

resistance bc NM ppl want to be with USA Fremont takes Sonoma in 1846 and creates

the Republic of California Meets with Kearny and defeats MX troops

US dominates MX due to poor MX leaders Robert E. Lee, Ulysses E. Grant, Zachary

Taylor and Winfield Scott lead USA Polk reinstates Santa Anna in MX; betrays

Polk and continues war

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

US and MX sign Treaty of G.H. In 1848 TX border set at Rio Grande MX cedes W. lands for $15 million MX guaranteed rights in territories

War enlarges USA by 1/3 Gadsden Purchase finalizes border in

lower 48 states Taylor wins election of 1948 after Polk

The Gadsden Purchase

Spoils of War for USA

Gold discovered in CA Gold rush: migration of prospectors to CA

in 1849 Forty-Niners: ppl from Asia, S. America

and Europe come to US for gold San Francisco is supply center and major

port Gold rush brings diversity to USA CA bans slavery; tensions grow in USA

Wilmot Proviso“Provided, That, as an express and

fundamental condition to the acquisition of any territory from the Republic of Mexico by the United States, by virtue of any treaty which may be negotiated between them, and to the use by the Executive of the moneys herein appropriated, neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall ever exist in any part of said territory, except for crime, whereof the party shall first be duly convicted.”

– The Wilmot Proviso, 1846

Compromise of 1850 CA is free state UT and NM choose whether or not slavery is

allowed (popular sovereignty) TX relinquishes NM and get $10 million to

pay back MX Slave sales is banned in DC, but not slavery

it self Fugitive Slave Act is enforced; Free states

must help capture and return escaped slaves