The War With Mexico

Before the War

• Polk wanted to expand
• Polk thought war would gain land from Mexico
• New Mexico, California, Texas
• Mexican Politics were very unstable during this time
• Border dispute: Texas vs. Mexico- U.S Backed Texas

SLIDELL'S REJECTION

• 1844- Santa Anna no longer president of Mexico
• Polk sent John Slidell to purchase New Mexico and California
• When Slidell arrived, Mexican officials refused to receive him
• Polk issued General Zachary Taylor to blockade the Rio Grande
• This sparked the tension that would eventually lead to the war

Attitudes Towards War

• Abolitionist James Russell considered the war a crime
• Pro-Slavery spokesmen John Calhoun also rejected war
• Showed that both sides of Slavery were opposed to conflict
• Southerners supported war due to possible slave expansion
• Northerners opposed the war and feared for loss of Congress Control

Beginning of the War

• John C. Frémont led an exploration party into Mexico
• Violated Mexican rights, in response troops were sent across Rio Grande
• The following skirmish lead to the death of 9 U.S soldiers
• Polk immediately pressed Congress to declare war on Mexico
• Abraham Lincoln attempted to stop the call for war

BEGINNING OF THE WAR (CONT.)

• Polk persuaded House and Senate to declare War
• Senate Vote: 40-2
• House Vote: 174-14
• Polk embellished the skirmish events to rally the Congressmen
• Manifest Destiny fueled Polk to expand the U.S border west

BLOODLESS EXPANSION

• Polk sent Col. Stephen Kearny to Santa Fe, New Mexico
• Kearney earned the name "Long Marcher" for the 800 mile trek there
• Upper-Class Mexicans in Santa Fe wished to join the U.S
• Santa Fe fell to the United States with no shots fired and conflict
• Kearney marched onward to California

On To California

• Mexico took all Spanish missions in California, like Texas
• 12,000 Mexican settlers migrated to California and enslaved the Native Americans
• Polk's offer to buy California angered Mexican Government
• Frémont lead a group of American settlers to California
• He declared the area "The Republic of California", and annexed into the U.S

War in Mexico

• American Troops won battle after battle in Mexico
• Lead by nation's best offers: Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee
• Other two officers were General Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott
• Winfield Scott was known as "Old Rough and Ready" due to his simple attire
• Zachary Taylor captured Monterrey, Mexico in 1845

Scheming Leaders

• Polk struck a deal with Santa Anna to smuggle him back to Mexico
• The catch was Santa Anna would have to end the war and border dispute
• Santa Anna returned to Mexico, resumed presidency, and did not follow the deal
• Anna ordered attack on Taylor's forces at Buena Vista
• Anna's soldiers were exhausted and pushed back into the interiors of Mexico

Winning the War

• Scott's forces captured Veracruz in 1847
• General Scott was "Old Fuss and Feathers" because of he wore a dress
• Scott landed 10,000 troops on an island in less than 5 hours
• After 260 miles, Scott's army was undefeated
• Captured Mexico City on December 14th, 1847, ending the war

Casualties Of War

• Mexico lost 25,000 soldiers
• United States lost 13,000 soldiers
• Out of the 13,000 soldiers, 11,000 died of disease
• Most common disease was Yellow Fever

TREATY OF GUADALUPE HIDALGO

• Signed on February 2nd, 1848
• Mexico agreed to Rio Grande border for Texas
• Agreed to sell New Mexico and California for $15 million
• Included other lands stretching from California to Colorado
• 5 Years later, Franklin Pierce bought piece of territory on Gila River, Gadsden Purchase

Election of 1848

• Democrats nominated Louis Cass
• Anti- Slavery democrats nominated Martin Van Buren
• Van Buren won no electoral votes, but 10% of popular votes
• Whig Party Nominee Zachary Taylor won the election easily

Gold Rush

• Gold was found in a California Mill
• After news reached San Francisco, residents began the search for gold
• News travelled east and a mass emigration to California occured
• Population of California went from 400 to 44,000 in 2 years
• Called the "49ers", because the event took place in 1849

Gold Rush Brings Diversity

• By 1849, California population exceeded 100,000
• Immigrants from foreign countries also travelled to California
• Largest denomination was China, followed closely by free African Americans
• California applied for statehood and provoked a fiery protest in Congress
• Argument was over slavery, not about California. Became state in 1850