Mexican-American War
known as Mexican war, the U.S.-Mexican war, the Invasion of Meixico
armed conflict between the United States of America and the United Mexican States from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S. annexation of TExas
Mexico considered part of its territory despite the 1836 Texas Revolution
having recently attained Independence from Spain in 1821, Mexico was fraught with internal struggles that verged on civil war, however it was relatively united in refusing to recognize the independence of Texas
Manifest Destiny
Meanwhile, Pres. Polk's spirit of Manifest Destiny was focusing U.S interest on westward expasion
It is speaking about westward expansion and how beneficial it is
Remember the Louisiana Purchase was less than 50 years ago during this time
Napoleon sold us the Louisiana Purchase
His message to Congress on May eleventh 1846, stated that "Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon American soil."
Congress approved the declaration of war on May thirteenth with southern Democrats in strong support
Once teh U.S declared war on Mexico, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna wrote to Mexico City saying he no longer had aspirations to the presidency, but would eagerly use his military experience to fight off the foreign invasion of Mexico as he had before
Santa Anna had secretly been dealing with representatives of the US, pledging that if he were allowed back in Mexico through the US naval blockades, he would work to sell all contested territory to the US at a reasonable price
Once back in Mexico at the head of an army, Santa Anna broke his promise on both agreements. Santa Anna declared himself pres. again and unsuccessfully tried to fight of the US invasion
April 25, 1846
Thornton Affair
Mariano Arista fires on American troops across the Rio Grande
Septemver 21, 1846
Battle of Monterrey
Taylor, with 6,220 men, defeats Pedro Ampudia, who had 10,000 men
February 22, 1847
Battle of Buna Vista
Taylor crushes Santa Ana
September 12, 1847
Battle of Chapultepec
Halls of Montezuma
Americans attack a fort outside Mexico City
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
American purchases other Mexican cession and ends the war
Mexico lsot more tan half its land
America added 12 million square miles more territory to its expanding nation
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