Ch. 9 sec. 4

Ch. 9 Sec. 4

The War with Mexico

Polk Urges War

• 11th president of the US James K. Polk fully supported Manifest Destiny and slavery. With the extension of land that would mean more southern votes.

• The biggest debate stopping expansion was the dispute over the border of Texas.

• America believed it was at the Rio Grande while Mexico said it was 100 miles southeast

Section 3 recap

The US and Mexico were already at odds because of the Texas Revolution in 1836. Tensions rose when America officially annexed Texas in 1845. Mexico's government was having instability issues. President Polk was very forceful in his ideas of expansion.

Slidell's Rejection

• Polk sent John Slidell to Mexico to purchase New Mexico and to establish the Rio Grande as the official Texas Border

• Mexico refuses to see him

• In response, Polk sends General Zachary Taylor and his troops to blockade the Rio Grande

The War Begins

• John Fremont led an expedition through Mexican land to California which violated Mexico's law

• Mexico sent troops to the Rio Grande which led to approx. 10 US soldiers being killed

• Polk sent a message to Congress asking for a declaration of war before Mexico attacks again

• Congress approves the war by a landslide

Kearny Marches West

• 1846 Polk ordered Colonel Stephen Kearny to march from Kansas to Santa Fe, NM

• Kearney earns the nickname "The Long Marcher" for traveling 800 miles

• In Santa Fe they meet with upper class Mexicans who join the US after agreed upon finances, land, protection

• Kearny is able to go to Southern Ca. quickly

Republic of California

19th century Spanish settlers established California's coast

Mexico settled Ca. coast during the Texas Revolution

Had approx. 25,000 people spread across Ca. of Mexicans, Americans, and Natives

Republic of California

Polk offered to buy Ca. in 1845, but Mexico refused

Fremont and his troops were then ordered to attack the town of Senoma and by June 1846 declared southern Ca. the "Republic of California"

Kearny was able to join forces and take over all of Ca. forcing Mexican troops further south

The War in Mexico

The full invasion lasted about a year

Mexican soldiers fought against very successful leaders such as: Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, Zachary Taylor, and Winfield Scott

Taylor captured Monterrey, Mexico in Sept. 1846, but allowed Mexican troops to leave (Americans are now pushing farther south)

The War in Mexico

• Scott captures Veracruz, Mexico in March.

• Gen. Taylor pushes towards Mexico City

• Scott and Taylor arrive in Mexico City together with over 10,000 men and captures Mexico City in less than 5 hours.

• This is informally the final stand for Mexico

Spoils of War

• Mexico loses about 25,000 lives and almost half its land

• America loses about 13,000 lives

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

• Feb. 2, 1848 US and Mexico signed the Treaty

  • Rio Grande river is the new Texas border

  • The US will pay $15 million for peace and prior debts

  • Mexicans in the now-US territory were protected and had all American freedoms

• 1853 President Pierce signs the Gadsden Purchase and pays Mexico $10 million for land below the Gila river

The California Gold Rush

In January 1848, James Marshall working in the California Sierra Nevada accidentally discovers gold

Migrants flocked to Ca. to find their own gold. Population went from 400 in 1848 to 44,000 in 1850

The peak of this flood was 1849 giving way for the name the "Forty-Niners"

Impact of Gold Fever

• San Francisco became known as a " pandemonium of a city" because of its location and supplies available

• Population went from 1,000 to 35,000 in 1850 alone

Gold Rush Brings Diversity

• 1849 California's population reaches 100,000

  • Chinese

  • Free blacks

  • Mexicans

  • Few natives

  • White settlers

• Ca. constitution outlaws slavery in 1849

• Although protested heavily, Ca. gains statehood in 1850