MANIFEST DESTINY

MEXICAN HOSTILITY

POLK WANTS WAR

• James K. Polk, the U.S. President at the time, thought war with Mexico would obtain:
• Texas
• New Mexico
• California
• He believe that a successful war against Mexico would add all of these to the union.

POLK SENDS SLIDELL

• With the Mexican government in turmoil, Polk attempts to buy New Mexico, & California
• He sends Spanish speaking John Slidell to attempt the purchase
• When Slidell arrives, Mexican officials refuse to talk to him
• When Polk realized there would be no peaceful agreement, he sent Zachary Taylor to blockade the Rio Grande
• There was large debate if military action was necessary

THE WAR WITH MEXICO

• Mexico responds to Taylor's blockade with military action
• 9 U.S. soldiers killed
• Polk asks congress for a declaration of war
• Passed through congress quickly, officially starting war with Mexico

NEW MEXICO

• When Stephen Kearny reached New Mexico he met a group of Mexicans
• The group was made up of higher class Mexicans who wanted to join the U.S. army
• New Mexico was captured without a shot fired

REPUBLIC OF CALIFORNIA

• A group of American settlers led by John Frémont capture Sonoma
• Sonoma was a city in California which was at the time owned by Mexico
• With control of the city, the declared independence
• They called themselves the Republic of California

AMERICAN VICTORIES

• In the war the American victories came one after another
• The Mexican soldiers lacked good leader
• Americans had great generals
• Mexican soldiers were unorganized

SANTA ANNA

• Former Mexican President
• Was exiled into Cuba
• Told Polk if he helped him get back, he would solve the border dispute
• Polk agreed, when he resumed his presidency, he took control of the army and attacked
• The Mexicans outnumbered the U.S. troops, but the Mexicans were tired allowing the U.S. to win

WAR RESULTS

• Mexico lost 25,000 soldiers, and half of their land
• U.S. lost 13,000 soldiers, but gained about 1/3 the amount of land they already had

TREATY OF GUADALUPE HIDALGO

• U.S. And Mexico sign treaty
• Treaty gives U.S. land north of the Rio Grande
• U.S. Gives Mexico $15 million, promises freedom of religion and bilingual elections
• This treaty allowed Mexican people still living in these territories to be safe

ELECTION 1848

SUTTER'S MILL

GOLD RUSH BEGINS

• Thousand of people flood to California
• People drop everything for the chance to become rich
• News paper in San Francisco suspends publication due to lack of workers

GOLD FEVER SPREDS

• California's population skyrockets from 400 in 1848 to 44,000 in 1850
• People from Asia, Europe, and South America began to search for gold

SAN FRANCISCO

• Due to its location, the gold rush turned San Francisco into a booming city
• Ferrying people and supplies across the harbors

DIVERSE AMERICA

• The goldrush brought many new people to California
• Chinese, African-Americans, and Mexicans all got in on the gold rush
• Many of them even became rich from finding gold