Period 5.2
MANIFEST DESTINY AND THE MEXICAN
WAR
GONE TO TEXAS

1823 - Mexico gains its independence from
Spain

Stephen Austin
 Given
a large chunk of land in Northern Mexico
as repayment for his help in the Mexican
Revolution
 He
began to bring families into the land and
populating Texas
TEXAN-MEXICAN CLASHES

Within a few years, the Mexican government
began to regret granting Austin the land
because:
1.
2.

The number of Texans was multiplying each year.
The people moving into Texas were mostly from
the South and West, and brought slavery with them
(slavery was illegal in Mexico)
1835 – Mexican President, Santa Anna began
to raise an army to thwart the colony in the
Texas Territory
THE ALAMO

The Alamo (San Antonio)
 6000 Mexican troops march in
to crush the American Colony

200 Americans, led by Jim
Bowie and Davy Crockett,
made a stand against the
Mexicans, but were ultimately
surrounded and killed by the
Mexican Army.
THE LONE STAR REBELLION

Sam Houston – Governor, and Commander
in Chief of the Republic Texas
 Led
Texan troops into the Battle of San Jacinto
against Santa Anna’s Mexican Army


They captured Santa Anna and forced him to sign a treaty in
1836 giving Texas their independence from Mexico
1836 – After the Battle of San Jacinto, Texas
became an independent Republic (their own
country) and eventually applies to become a
slave state in the U.S.
THE UNITED STATES, TEXAS, AND MEXICO
A MANDATE FOR MANIFEST DESTINY

Manifest Destiny, the idea
that God had ordained this
country to spread their
democratic and religious
institutions across the entire
continent, became popular
in the 1840s and 1850s.

1844 Presidential Election – the annexation of
Texas, and the dispute over the Oregon Territory
were the lead issues

Democrats - Pro-expansion, and favored the
annexation of Texas

Whigs – tried to ignore the issue of Texas
altogether because their Northern supporters
didn’t want to add another slave state to the
Union.
POLK AS PRESIDENT


Election of 1844

Whig Party- Henry Clay – didn’t take a strong stance on
expansionism, especially in regards to Texas

Democrats- James K. Polk – strongly favored
expansionism and Manifest Destiny.
James K. Polk, aka “Young Hickory,” wins the
election easily
THE BELATED TEXAS NUPTIALS

1845, just before leaving office, John Tyler
signed a resolution that invited Texas to join the
union as the 28th state.
OREGON FEVER POPULATES OREGON

By 1800

Four countries claimed the Oregon Territory
1.
2.
3.
4.
U.S.
Spain
Russia
Britain

Spain dropped out after the Florida Treaty in 1819

Russia dropped out with the treaties of 1824 and
1825
BRITAIN VS. U.S. FOR THE OREGON TERRITORY

1846


Britain officially
controlled the northern
part of the Columbia
River (Current day
Washington)
5,000 Americans settled
south of the River
(Current day Oregon)
“54-40 OR FIGHT!”

Americans in Oregon
wanted to claim the land up
to the 54th parallel line, and
cried “54-40 or Fight.”


Advocated war with Britain if
their demands weren't met.
The Oregon Treaty


Gave the U.S. the Oregon
territory up to the 49th parallel
Britain took everything above.
POLK’S GOALS

Polk’s Four Goals:
1.
2.
3.
4.
A lower tariff
Restore the independent treasury
Acquire California from Mexico
Acquire the Oregon Territory
MISUNDERSTANDINGS WITH MEXICO

1845


The majority of California’s
population was made up of
Native Americans and
Spanish Mexicans
Polk wanted to buy
California from Mexico

Mexico will not sell
because of deteriorated
relations stemming from
the annexation of Texas
BRITISH RUMORS

Polk began to hear rumors of Britain attempting
to buy California, so he sent a delegate to
Mexico City to make another offer for California,
this time for $25 million.
 Mexico
again rejects the U.S. offer to buy California
AMERICAN BLOOD ON AMERICAN SOIL

January 13, 1846

Polk orders General
Zachary Taylor to take his
troops to Corpus Christi, set
up camp along the Nueces
River, and wait for orders.


disputed territory between
The U.S. and Mexico
Polk suspected that this
move would provoke
Mexico into taking military
action against the U.S.
DECLARING WAR.

April 1846, 11 Americans were killed by
Mexican military forces in the disputed territory.

May 9, 1846
 Polk
asks Congress for a declaration of War on
Mexico
 The
war was controversial in Congress because of why
the attack from Mexico had happened in the first place.
THE MASTERING OF MEXICO

Polk wanted to buy California, what he got was a
war with Mexico that the U.S. would have to win in
order to get California.

Mexican-American War Generals:

Zachary Taylor
 Won


a huge victory for America at Buena Vista
Eventually became the President of the United States
Winfield Scott
 Battled
his way to Mexico City and conquered it.
FIGHTING MEXICO FOR PEACE

The U.S. won the war
with Mexico, and Treaty
of Guadalupe Hidalgo
officially ended the war.

The terms of the Treaty

The Mexican Cession


Officially ceded Texas to
America
Ceded all of Northern
Mexico to the U.S. for
$15 million
LONG TERM RESULTS OF THE MEXICAN WAR
1.
Revived the slavery
arguments between
states because of all the
new land added to U.S.
2.
The Mexican War
provided war experience
for future Civil War
Generals:


Captain Robert E. Lee
Lieutenant Ulysses S.
Grant
REOPENING

The Wilmot Proviso – a bill introduced into
Congress that stated that all the land gained
from Mexico should remain slave-free.
 Never
became law because it was not passed by
the Senate, but it reopened the wound that had
been stitched by the Missouri Compromise back in
1820.