9.4 War with Mexico
Objectives:
1. To summarize the conflicting attitudes on waging war
with Mexico
2. To describe key battles that helped the United States win
the war with Mexico
3. To identify U.S. territories gained from Mexico.
Congressional Scales, 1850
Congressional Scales, 1850
The question of how a war with Mexico
might unbalance the nation politically
weighed heavily on people's minds as
the nation entered the 1850s. In this
cartoon, lithographer Nathaniel Currier-who later would found the famous
graphic art company Currier and Ives-illustrates the problem. Trying to balance
the Wilmot Proviso against Southern
Rights, the president seeks to keep
congressional representatives from the
North and the South in balance as well.
(Library of Congress)
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
War with Mexico!
Polk wants the whole Texas, Cali. and N. Mexico
Border issue with Mexico – Nueces or Rio Grande?
President Polk tries to buy California from Mexico. His envoy,
John Slidell, is refused.
Polk orders Gen. Zachary Taylor and 4,000 men to the Rio
Grande
April 25, 1846 Mexican troops kill 11 Americans
“They have spilled American blood on American soil!!!”
US declares war
Slavery again becomes a huge issue (Wilmot Proviso)
Charles Sumner
“The lives of Mexicans are
sacrificed in this cause; and
a domestic question, which
should be reserved for the
bloodless debate in our own
country, is transferred to the
fields of battle in a foreign
land.”
What does he mean by
this?
Map: The Mexican War
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Stephen Kearny and John C.
Fremont “liberate” New Mexico
and then California and declare
the “Bear Flag Republic” in 1846.
Gen. Zachary Taylor defeats
overwhelming Mexican forces at
Buena Vista
Gen. Winfield Scott is victorious
at Veracruz. Leads US troops to
Mexico City 1847, wins victory
against great odds.
Map: Major Battles of the Mexican-American War
Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Peace Now or More War?
Debate of 1847
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo signed
in 1848, US to pay $15 million for
land gained and assume claims of US
citizens against Mexico
Division in Congress
Whigs call for end of war.
Expansionists want to continue the
invasion
Gadsden Purchase extends US
border south to current boundary for
$10 million in 1853.
Mexican War: After Effects
Increases the US by 1/3
More land than acquired in LA Purchase
US establishes the power of its military to foreign powers
Slavery issue is increasingly divisive
Bitter relations with Mexico
Election of 1848
•War Hero Zachary Taylor becomes the 12th President
California Gold Rush!!!
January 1848 gold discovered at
Sutter’s Mill in California.
Americans everywhere drop
everything, literally, and rush to
California, called the gold rush.
Migration to CA jumps from 400 in
1848 to 44,000 in 1850.
New migrants call themselves “fortyniners.”
California applies for statehood as a
free state.
S.F. 1847,
1850
TERMS
James K. Polk
Objectives:
Zachary Taylor
Stephen Kearney
1.
To summarize the
conflicting attitudes on
waging war with Mexico
2.
To describe key battles that
helped the United States win
the war with Mexico
3.
To identify U.S. territories
gained from Mexico.
Bear Flag Republic
Winfield Scott
Treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo
Gadsden Purchase
Forty-niners
Gold rush