Manifest
Destiny
America
Claims a
Continent
US and Texas Annexation
First attempt in 1836 is rejected by the US
Republic of Texas:
Sam Houston
First President – 1836 – 1838
Conservative – expected statehood and his administration
reflected that expectation
Mirabeau B. Lamar
Second President: 1838 – 1841
Responded to Annexation rejection by preparing Texas as a
western rival to the US – vigorously asserted Texas
___________ westward and on the high seas
Received recognition as a sovereign state by Britain, France,
Belgium and The Netherlands
Exponentially increased the debt of the Republic
Republic of Texas - 1846
US and Texas Annexation
1837 - 1839
03 March 1837 – US recognizes Texas independence, the last act
of Jackson as president
11 March 1837 – Santa Anna, home in Mexico, renounces all
guarantees made to the Republic of Texas as a condition to his
restoration of freedom.
27 March 1837 – U.S. Secretary of State reports that treaty
agreements with Mexico prohibit the U.S.'s annexing Texas.
1838 June/July – John Quincy Adams speaks against the
annexation of Texas all morning, every morning in the U.S. House
of Representatives.
12 October 1838 – Texas withdraws the offer of annexation
because of the U.S. Congress' lack of action on the proposal.
23 January 1839 – Texas Congress passes joint resolution
approving of President Sam Houston's withdrawal of annexation
proposal.
US and Texas Annexation
1844 – 1845
January 1844 – President Houston submits annexation question to
Texas Congress, then instructs minister to the U.S. to resume
annexation talks.
11 April 1844 – An annexation treaty between the U.S. and Texas
signed between the two diplomats.
08 June 1844 – U.S. Senate rejects the treaty (35 to 16).
25 January 1845 – Joint Resolution to annex Texas passes the U.S.
House of Representatives.
27 February 1845 – Joint Resolution, with amendments to be voted
on by the house, passes U.S. Senate (27 to 25).
28 February 1845 – House adopts senate version of the joint
resolution to annex the Republic of Texas (132 to 76).
01 March 1845 – President Polk signs annexation resolution.
03 March 1845 – Annexation offer sent to Texas president Anson
Jones.
Texas and Annexation
1845
MAY 19 – Cuevas-Smith treaty between Mexico and Texas signed
guaranteeing Texas independence so long as it remains a separate
republic.
JUNE 16 – Texas Congress meets in special session to consider both the
proposed Mexican treaty and the annexation resolution from the U.S.
Congress. U.S. offer accepted.
JULY 4 – Convention meets to consider both the Mexican treaty and the
U.S. annexation resolution. U.S. offer accepted by Convention.
OCTOBER 13 – Annexation ordinance and state constitution submitted to
the Texas voters for approval. (The vote tally on November 10, 1845, was
4,254 to 267 in favor of annexation; the total vote, compiled January 1,
1846, was 7,664 to 430 in favor of annexation.)
DECEMBER 16 – U.S. House votes to annex Texas by Joint Resolution
(141 to 58--21 abstaining).
DECEMBER 22 – U.S. Senates approves joint resolution for the
admission of Texas as a state (31 to 14, 7 abstaining).
DECEMBER 29 – President signs the Joint Resolution. “Texas officially
the 28th state on this date.
Disputed Boundaries: Mexico & Texas
19 February 1846 – Texas
President Anson Jones
declares “The Republic of
Texas is no more.”
The transfer of government
is completed when Governor
J. Pinckney Henderson takes
the oath of office.
The United States agreed to
maintain the boundaries set
by the Texas congress in late
1836 at the Rio Grande.
Mexican-American War
1845 - 1846
Event
Date
Location
Significance
Mexico snubs Slidell
November
1845
Mexico City
Pres. Polk instructs John Slidell to offer up to $25 million for
New Mexico and California. Insulted Mexicans refuse to see
Slidell.
Polk orders troops to
southern Texas
January
1846
Rio Grande
River
Zachary Taylor and 4000 men are sent to disputed territory,
expecting attack. Conflict with Mexican troops results in 16
American casualties.
Congress declares war
on Mexico
May 1846
Washington,
D.C.
Polk asks for war with Mexico. Northern Whigs fear victory
would add more slave states to U.S. Declaration passes 40-2
in Senate, 174-14 in House. Whig Congressman Lincoln asks
for the spot on American soil where American blood was
shed.
Bear Flag Republic
established
June 1846
Northern
California
John C. Fremont and volunteers capture town of Sonoma and
hoist Bear Flag.
Americans capture
Monterey
July 1846
Monterey,
California
250 sailors capture Mexico's California capital without a shot.
Kearny takes Santa Fe
August
1846
New Mexico
Marching from Kansas to California, Stephen Kearny's 1700
men take key Mexican trading post.
Battle of San Pascual
December
1846
San Diego,
California
In fierce fighting, Kearny's forces barely survive attack of
Mexican lancers.
Mexican-American War
1847 - 1848
Event
Date
Location
Significance
Battle of San Gabriel
January
1847
San Gabriel,
California
Californio forces retreat as American forces cross San Gabriel River and
take Los Angeles
Battle of Buena Vista
February
1847
Central Mexico
With a much larger army (20,000 to Taylor's 5,000), Santa Anna is
unable to defeat Taylor's American forces.
Veracruz
March 1847
East coast of
Mexico
Winfield Scott and 14,000 men capture port and begin following
Cortez's route to Mexico City
Mexico City
September
1847
Central Mexico
U.S. captures city. Santa Anna loses 4,000 of his 25,000-man army,
while Scott loses 900 of his 10,000.
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
February 2,
1848
Central Mexico
Mexico gives up all claim to Texas. U.S. pays Mexico $15 million and
agrees to assume American citizens' claims ($3,250,000) against
Mexico. Expansionists call for "All Mexico." Senate passes treaty 3814.
Mexican American War
Polk’s Generals
<= Zachary Taylor
“Old Rough & Ready”
Winfield Scott =>
“Old Fuss & Feathers”
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Mexico:
Gave up claims to Texas
Ceded Nm & CA to U.S.
United States:
Paid Mexico $15 million
Assumed $3.25 million in
claims against Mexico
The Mexican Cession
Land taken from
Mexico formed:
New Mexico
Arizona
Utah
Nevada
California
Parts of:
Texas
Wyoming
Colorado
The War’s Legacies
Completed nation’s __________ __________ with
the exception of the Gadsden Purchase
Expanded scope of __________ __________
Made war heroes of Scott & Taylor (both had
political ambitions)
Fostered an initial burst of __________ _________
On calmer reflection, seen as a war of __________
Provoked a violent debate about expansion of
slavery into __________ __________