Conflict with Mexico. Stephen Austin owned land in Texas, passed down from his father He led a group...
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Transcript of Conflict with Mexico. Stephen Austin owned land in Texas, passed down from his father He led a group...
Stephen Austin owned land in Texas, passed down from his father
He led a group of 300 Americans to Texas to start a small colony
Americans were told they could stay IF they agreed to become Mexican citizens and worship in the Roman Catholic Church
Growing Conflict
Thousands more flooded into TexasDisregarded Mexican law
Brought slaves and were Protestants1830 Mexico banned further U.S. settlement and
tried to enforce its lawsBegan to levy heavy taxes on U.S. imports
Declaring Independence
In Mexico there was a movement for a more democratic government
1833 General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna took control of governmentOver turned constitution
and began a dictatorship (one person rule)
Texans at war
Santa Anna attacked the Alamo, a mission where Texans and Mexican Texans (Tejanos) were gathered
The Texans and Tejanos held out for 12 days under heavy cannon fire before Mexican forces overran it
All the defenders killed in battle or executed afterwards
Inspired by their bravery, many American volunteers joined the Texan Army
Later Sam Houston, commander of the Texan Army led a surprise attack on Santa Anna at San Jacinto
Captured Santa Anna and forced him to recognize Texan independence
Annexing Texas and Oregon
Election of 1844Election was between Henry Clay (Whig) and
James K. PolkPolk won by promising to annex Texas and Oregon
AnnexationBefore Polk took office President Tyler called for
admission of Texas as stateAs President, Polk negotiated a treaty with Britain
to divide Oregon (Now states of Washington, Oregon, and parts of Idaho)
Tensions with MexicoMexico had never formally recognized
Texan independenceTreaty Santa Anna signed set
boundary at Rio GrandeMexican government claimed
boundary was further north
Beginnings of the Mexican-American War
Polk offered Mexican government cash to settle the border dispute, purchase California and the rest of New Mexico
This angered Mexico and they refusedPolk then tried to provoke the Mexicans
Sent General Zachary Taylor into the disputed land
Mexicans ambushed them and Polk asked Congress for a declaration of war
The Mexican American War
War with Mexico popular with most AmericansSupport was strongest among
Westerners and Southerners who wanted more land
http://www.pbs.org/kera/usmexicanwar/timeline_flash.html
Why would Southerners want more land?
How would the belief in “Manifest Destiny” make people support the war?
Why would Westerners want more land?
Rebellion in California
Polk ordered troop under the command of Stephen Kearny to invade and capture Santa Fe, New Mexico
Settlers near San Francisco had begun their own revolt against Mexico
They raised a grizzly bear flag and declared California an independent republic
John C. Fremont took control of the “Bear Flag Rebellion”
Quickly captured major cities of California (Monterey and San Francisco)
Fremont
He then moved on to join forces with U.S. troops under the command of Kearny
Kearny’s troops captured Santa Fe and San Diego
United with naval units to occupy all of southern California
Kearny
Invasion of Mexico
General Zachary Taylor and General Winfield Scott swept through Mexico with stunning victories even though they were often outnumbered
How do you think they still won?
Scott’s campaign ended at Chapultepec, a stone palace above the capital of Mexico City
The Mexican troops fought bravely to defend Chapultepec, but most were killed
How is this similar to the American experience at the Alamo?
After Americans won the capital city, Santa Anna fled
The U.S. had won the war
Achieving Manifest Destiny
The war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
Under the treaty, Mexico recognized the annexation of Texas and gave the U.S. large amounts of territory
Mexican Cession included present day California, Nevada, Utah and parts of Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico
U.S. also paid $15 million for this land
In the Gadsden Purchase of 1853, U.S. paid Mexico $10 million for a narrow strip of present day Arizona and New Mexico
How did Each Person Help bring Mexican land under u.s. control?
A. General Kearny
B. General Zachary Taylor
C. General Winfield Scott
D. John Fremont
E. President Tyler
F. President Polk
G. Stephen Austin
H. Sam Houston