The Mexican-American War

The Mexican-American War

By Mr. Marks

1.) ​President Polk sent a representative to try and buy New Mexico and California. Mexican officials refused to meet with the representative.

2.) On April 25, 1846, Mexican soldiers fired on U.S. troops who were patrolling along the Rio Grande. Sixteen Americans were killed or wounded.

​3.) Polk charged Mexico with invading the US in an angry speech to Congress. Two days later Congress declared war on Mexico.​

4.) Not everyone supported the war. Many felt that Polk had provoked Mexico in order to start a war and take land Mexico wasn't willing to sell. One of the biggest critics was Congressman Abraham Lincoln.

What caused the Mexican-American War?

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Multiple Choice

Who said, "Mexico has …invaded our territory and shed American blood upon the American soil"?

• James K. Polk

• Zachary Taylor

• Winfield Scott

• General Santa Anna

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​

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said that the ​

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ad invaded ​

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and killed American soldiers.

• Critics of the war did not believe Polk's justification that Mexico had invaded since the land involved was claimed by both Mexico and the U.S. at the time.

• Polk's and Congress' desire for more land is an example of the spirit of Manifest Destiny, the idea that America should control everything from "sea to shining sea"

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What Caused the Mexican-American War?

Poll

The war with Mexico BEGAN with

• California's rebellion

• a border dispute in Texas

• the Battle of Buena Vista

• a US invasion of Mexico City

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​

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believed it was their ​

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to control all the ​

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from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

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Americans

Manifest Destiny

land

lakes

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​

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was President of the United States during the ​

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. He is considered by many ​

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to have been one of the most ​

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Presidents in American history.

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James K. Polk

Mexican-American War

historians

successful

unsuccessful

General Santa Anna

​General Stephen Kearney led troops into California. Combined with American settlers already there these troops took over in just a few weeks

Taking California

General Zachary Taylor led troops south from Texas into Mexico. After taking the cities of Monterey and Buena Vista they forced General Santa Ana to retreat.

Taylor's Troops Invade

​Over a period of about a month General Winfield Scott's troops fought their way from Veracruz to the Mexican capital of Mexico City, ending the war.

Scott takes the Capital

Multiple Select

What three steps did the U.S. use to win the Mexican-American War?

• Negotiate a treaty setting the Oregon border at 49°

• Troops led by General Taylor forced Mexican General Santa Ana to retreat.

• Troops led by General Kearney invaded California

• General Winfield Scott led troops into the Mexican capital

1.) The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed on 2 February 1848, officially ending the war.

2.) Mexico agreed to give up Texas and a vast region known as the Mexican Cession. This area included the present-day states of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, as well as parts of Colorado and Wyoming.

3.) Mexico lost half its territory. The US agreed to pay $15 million and to protect Mexicans living in what was now U.S. territory.​

4.) On 24 January 1848 gold was discovered in California, sparking the Gold Rush and leading to great riches for California and the United States.

​What did the US gain from the Mexican-American War?

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Multiple Choice

The war ended with Mexico and the United States signing a treaty which took away half of Mexico's land. What was the name of the treaty?

• Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

• Treaty of Paris

• Adams-Onis Treaty

• Oregon Treaty of 1846

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After the ​

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​

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agreed to give up​

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and a vast region known as the ​

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​ . This area included the present-day states of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, as well as parts of Colorado and Wyoming.

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Mexican-American War

Mexico

Texas

Mexican Cession

Florida