Mexican-American War
- Also known as the Mexico War, the U.S.- Mexican War, the Invasion of Mexico, the U.S. Intervention, or the United States War Against Mexico.
- 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
- Why: Mexico considered part of its territory despite the 1836 Texas Revolution.
Hypocrite?
- Having recently Mexico attained Independence from Spain in 1821 and now they are denying Texas their independence.
Manifest Destiny
- Meanwhile, President Polk’s spirit of Manifest Destiny was focusing U.S. interest on westward expansion.
- It is speaking about westward expansion and how beneficial it is.
- Remember the Louisiana Purchase was less than 50 years (1803) ago during this time.
Polk wants war
- His mesasage to Congress on May 11, 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 13, with southern Democrats in strong support.
Santa Anna: 2nd chance
- Once the U.S. declared war on Mexico, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna (he is exiled at this point) 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 U.S., pledging that if he were allowed back into Mexico through the U.S. naval blockades, he would work to sell all contested territory to the United States 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 president again and unsuccessfully tried to fight off the U.S. invasion.
Video (order of events)
- April 25, 1846 Thornton Affair: Mariano Arista fires on American troops across the Rio Grande.
- Polk wants war
- September 21, 1846 Battle of Monterrey: Taylor, with 6,220 men, defeats Pedro Ampudia, who had 10,000 men
- February 22, 1847 Battle of Buena Vista: Taylor with 4,500 men , crushes Santa Anna , who had 20,000 men
- September 12, 1847 Battle of Chapultepec: “Halls of Montezuma” 13,000 Americans attack a fort outside of Mexico City.
- September 14, 1847 U.S. captures Mexico City
- February 2, 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, American purchases the Mexican Cession and end the war
- Mexico lost 55% of its territory, American added 1.2 million square miles more territory to its expanding nation.
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