The Mexican American

War

Causes of the War

Manifest Destiny
The prevailing expansionist spirit
Confidence from overwhelming advantages of size and wealth.

Mexicos default on debts owed to the US

Break in diplomatic relations with Mexico when the US annexes
Texas in 1845
Dispute over the souther boundary of Texas
The US claims the border is the Rio Grande River
Mexico claims it is 150 miles further north at the Nueces River.

Cont.
Polk orders Gen. Zachary Taylor to defend the Texas Boundary.
He leads 1500 troops to Corpus Christi and wait on negotiations.
Secretary of State Slidell has offered Mexico 25 Million for CA and NM.

The Spark
Negotiations with Mexico
fail & General Taylor takes
4,000 troops down to the
Rio Grande
Mexicans cross the river on
April 25th and attack.

Mr. Polks War

Polks Three Part Plan

Invade Northern Mexico
Gen. Taylor clears Mexicans from TX and occupy northern Mexico.

Take Possession of California and New Mexico.

General Stephen Kearny takes Santa Fe, NM and Los Angeles, CA.

Take the Capital, Mexico City

Gen. Winfield Scott lands in Vera Cruz in March 1847.

Cont.
Scotts troops occupy Mexico City in 1847,
It takes 6 months of fighting to take the Capital.
This fighting is the first for several notable future
leaders including Ulysses S. Grant & Robert E. Lee.

The Halls of Montezuma

On Sept. 14th Scott marched into Mexico City and
raised the American flag over the Mexican National
Palace. Celebrated in the Marine Corp Hymn.
The first time in US history the Stars and Stripes fly
over a foreign capital.

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Mexico loses over 50% of its territory and 1% of its population in
the cession.
The US gets full title to Texas, with the southern boundary at the
Rio Grande River
The US pays $15 million for CA and NM
US assumes over $3 Million of Mexican government debt.

The Election of 1848

The MAW provides the US with a huge new
territory.
Zachary Taylor, Old Rough and Ready, is a
Whig and his war popularity carries him to
victory.
The Free Soil Party is formed by Martin Van
Buren to oppose slavery.
Justice, Union, Peace (1848)
First Presidential Campaign poster in US politics
Taylor had no actual platform
In fact it is the first election he has ever voted in.

Zachary Taylor (12)

More Manifest Destiny
Gold Rush, 1849
US Prestige grows with Europe but falles with Latin America
Slavery and Secession Issues Resurface
Wilmot Proviso - No slavery in MX cession - failed
Compromise of 1850

Gadsen Purchase, 1853.

US purchases strip of NM and AZ for $10 Million
Because it is flatter the US can now build a railroad to California.

The Compromise of 1850

California petitions to join the Union as a free state. This would upset the balance of power in the Senate
The South threatens succession
To prevent a civil war, elderly Henry Clay constructs a last ditch effort to compromise.

Provisions Favoring the North

California is admitted as a free state
Free states now outnumbered slave states

Territory disputed by TX and NM surrendered by TX to NM

All future slave TRADING prohibited in Washington DC.

Provisions Favoring the South

Slave OWNERSHIP allowed in DC
Stronger Fugitive Slave Law
Designed to suppress the Underground RR
Slave owners didnt have to prove ownership to get slaves returned
Slaves had no right to testify
The North totally opposed and passed personal liberty laws which forbade the capture and return of runaway slaves.

Cont.
Mexican cession would be divided into two territories: Utah and
New Mexico
Slavery would be decided in these two territories by popular
sovereignty
Stephen Douglas is responsible for the passage of the Compromise
President Taylor opposes the Compromise, but dies in July 1850.
President Fillmore signs the bill into law.