The Mexican War
• America's war with Mexico has been
labeled, both then and since, an
unprovoked and unjustifiable war of
aggression and territorial aggrandizement.
MANIFEST DESTINY!
• A continuation of the
belief that God has
blessed America and
that God is pleased with
American institutions
(freedom and
democracy)
• And He wants to see as
much land as possible
come under the
influence of the
American way
“Manifest Destiny”
• First coined by newspaper editor, John O’Sullivan in
1845.
•
".... the right of our manifest destiny to over spread and
to possess the whole of the continent which Providence
has given us for the development of the great experiment of
liberty and federaltive development of self-government
entrusted to us. It is right such as that of the tree to the
space of air and the earth suitable for the full expansion of
its principle and destiny of growth."
Manifest Destiny
• A sense of
cultural and
racial
superiority
TEJAS
• Northernmost part of New Spain and then, after
1821, Mexico
• Traditionally thought of as the land to the north
of the Nueces River (Corpus Christi)
• Both American and European cartographers of
the time had fixed the southern boundary of
Texas at the Nueces (source: The National
Archives – www.archives.gov)
• Sparsely populated
NUECES RIVER BOUNDARY
THE TREATIES OF VELASCO
(1836)
• After the Battle of San
Jacinto, Santa Anna, a
prisoner of the Texas army,
signed two treaties at
Velasco, Texas
• Public Treaty
– An agreement to end all
hostilities
– Santa Anna agrees to retreat
to the south of the Rio
Grande
THE TREATIES OF VELASCO
http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/treatyvelasco.htm
• Secret Treaty
– Santa Anna would be released immediately in exchange
for his recognition of Texas independence
– Both Texas and the Mexican government violated the
treaties
– Texas detained Santa Anna (from May to November)
while the Mexican government declared everything Santa
Anna agreed to in captivity to be null and void
– Mexico did not recognize Texas independence
– They continued to view Texas as a province in rebellion
Jackson and Texas
• Andrew Jackson
was a supporter of
the Texas
Revolution but
chose not to push
for Texas
annexation after
independence was
achieved
MARTIN VAN BUREN AND
TEXAS
• Van Buren
(1837-1841)
opposed the
annexation of
Texas on
grounds that it
would add
another slave
state to the
union.
THE TYLER PRESIDENCY
(1841-1845)
• Growing concern that
Texas would ally itself
with England, abolish
slavery, sell cotton and
hurt southern interests
• The Tyler
administration
negotiated a treaty of
annexation with Texas
in 1844
• Treaties require a 2/3
vote in the Senate
A CONTROVERSIAL TREATY
• Sec. of State Calhoun
negotiated the treaty but
suggested the desire to
annex Texas was driven
by southern slave
interests (April 1844)
• This inflamed northern
opposition and the treaty
was rejected (June 1844)
Calhoun life mask
The Election of 1844
• Texas became the major
issue in the campaign
• Clay (W) was against
annexation at first and
then seemed to be for it
• The Democrats rejected
anti-annexation MVB
and nominated proannexation James K.
Polk
The Election of 1844
• Polk called for
– Settling the Oregon dispute with England
– Florida Statehood
– The annexation of Texas
– The acquisition of California (San Francisco
would be a gateway to the Pacific ocean)
– Polk won the electoral vote 170-105 but the
popular vote was very close (difference of 40,000
out of 2.6 million cast)
JOINT RESOLUTION OF CONGRESS
ANNEXING TEXAS
MARCH 1, 1845
• 3 days before Polk’s
inauguration
• Joint Resolutions only need a
majority vote
• “That Congress doth
consent the territory properly
included within, and rightfully
belonging to the Republic of
Texas, may be erected into a
new State, to be called the
State of Texas”
THE POLK ADMINISTRATION
(1845-1849)
• March 4, 1845 – Polk is inaugurated
• March 31, 1845 – Mexico withdrew its ambassador
(breaks diplomatic relations) from Washington, D.C.
after repeated warnings against Texas annexation
• June 16, 1845 – Texas accepted the U.S. offer of
annexation
• July 1845 - Polk sent Zachary Taylor and 3,500 troops
to the banks of the Nueces River at Corpus Christi
THE POLK ADMINISTRATION
(1845-1849)
• Polk also sent a naval squadron off the Mexican
gulf coast
• He told his representative in California to stir up
annexation talk (The Bear Flag Revolt) out there
(13,000 Spanish Mexicans, 75,000 Native
Americans, <1,000 foreigners, mostly
Americans)
MEXICAN DEBT TO U.S. AND
POLITICAL INSTABILITY
• The Mexican government had agreed (in
1843) to assume $3 million in debt to U.S.
citizens but defaulted on its payments
• Mexico experienced much political
instability during this time as well as a
nationalistic pride that prevented
compromise with the U.S.
THE SLIDELL MISSION
• In November 1845,
Polk sent John Slidell to
Mexico to negotiate the
purchase of California
and New Mexico
• Slidell was to offer $25
million dollars (one of
numerous offers to buy
this land)
THE SLIDELL MISSION
• Slidell was also instructed to settle all U.S. claims
against Mexico (the $3 million) in exchange for
Mexican recognition of the Rio Grande as the
southern boundary of Texas
• Mexico knew of Slidell’s intentions and refused
to meet with him officially (in fact the current
government was overthrown out of fear they
would give away Mexican land to the U.S.)
POLK THE PROVOKER?
• December 29, 1845 –
U.S. Congress approves
Texas statehood
• January 13, 1846 – Polk
ordered General Taylor
to move from the banks
of the Nueces and set up
camp on the eastern
banks of the Rio Grande
• Taylor set up camp and
built a fort across from
Matamoros
Old Rough and Ready
POLK’S WAR MESSAGE
• May 8, 1846 – Slidell returned from Mexico
and urged Polk to take decisive action against
Mexico
• May 9, 1846 – President Polk began drafting
a war message to Congress asking for a
declaration of war on Mexico on two grounds
• Unpaid debts and the rejection of Slidell
AMERICAN BLOOD UPON THE
AMERICAN SOIL
• On the night of May 9th, while composing his
war message, Polk received a letter from Gen.
Taylor
• Taylor informed Polk of a military skirmish that
took place on the eastern banks of the Rio
Grande in which 16 Americans were killed
(April 25, 1846)
• Polk incorporated this incident into his war
message
POLK’S MESSAGE ON WAR
WITH MEXICO
• May 11, 1846 – See primary source handout
• “…Mexico has passed the
boundary of the United States, has
invaded our territory and shed
American blood upon the
American soil.”
CONGRESS DECLARES WAR ON
MEXICO
• May 13, 1846
–House of Representatives
– 174-14
–Senate
– 40-2
LINCOLN’S SPOT
RESOLUTIONS
• In 1847, a relatively
unknown Whig
congressman from
Illinois named Abraham
Lincoln challenged Polk
to identify the “spot”
where American blood
was shed, implying that it
was not American soil.
• The Spot Resolutions
were never adopted by
the House
Wilmot Proviso, 1846
Provided, territory from that, as an
express and fundamental condition to
the acquisition of any the Republic of
Mexico by the United States, by virtue
of any treaty which may be negotiated
between them, and to the use by the
Executive of the moneys herein
appropriated, neither slavery nor
involuntary servitude shall ever exist
in any part of said territory, except for
crime, whereof the party shall first be
duly convicted.
Congr. David Wilmot
(D-PA)
The Mexican War (1846-1848)
General Zachary Taylor at Palo Alto
“Old Rough and Ready”
The Bombardment of Vera Cruz
General Scott Enters Mexico City
“Old Fuss and Feathers”
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, 1848
Nicholas Trist,
American Negotiator
Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, 1848
The Treaty was basically forced on Mexico!
 Mexico gave up claims to Texas above the Rio
Grande River.
 Mexico gave the U. S. California and New Mexico.
 U. S. gave Mexico $15,000,000 and agreed to pay
the claims of American citizens against Mexico
(over $3,500,000).
Results of the Mexican War?
1. The 17-month war cost $100,000,000 and 13,000+
American lives (mostly of disease).
2. New territories were brought into the Union which forced the explosive
issue of SLAVERY to the center of national politics.
* Brought in 1 million sq. mi. of land (incl. TX)
3. These new territories would upset the balance of power between North and
South.
4. Created two popular Whig generals who ran for President.
5. Manifest Destiny partially realized.
The Mexican Cession