The Mexican American War

Mexican-American War

Multiple Choice

Which country ORIGINALLY controlled Mexico?

• Spain

• United States

• Texas

• France

Multiple Choice

When did Texas declare independence from Mexico?

• 1822

• 1830

• 1836

• 1865

Multiple Choice

Who had been given a land grant in Texas by Spain prior to Mexican independence?

• Abraham Lincoln

• Andrew Jackson

• Sam Houston

• Moses Austin

Multiple Choice

T/F: Mexico had a positive view of Americans who had settled in Texas prior to Mexican independence from Spain?

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Who became the president and then dictator of Mexico?

• Sam Houston

• Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna

• Miguel Hidalgo

• Augustin de Iturbide

Multiple Choice

What did Stephen Austin urge Tejanos (Texans of Mexican descent) to do to oppose Santa Anna?

• Revolt against Mexico

• Create a new Constitution

• File lawsuits

• Petition him to become a U.S. state

Multiple Choice

What happened to all of the fighters at the Alamo?

• Victory

• Everyone Died

• Treaty of Guadalupe

• They joined the Mexican Army

Multiple Choice

Roughly how many fighters were at the Alamo?

• About 50

• Under 100

• Between 100-200

• Between 200-300

Multiple Choice

What did Sam Houston hope would happen to Texas?

• Become an independent country

• Declare war on Mexico

• Receive help from Spain

• Annexation by the United States

Multiple Select

Which of the following were reasons why the U.S. was torn on adding Texas as a state? (More than one answer)

• The North was opposed to Texas joining the Union.

• The South was in favor of Texas becoming a state

• They feared Mexico attacking the U.S.

• Presidents wanted to avoid a political fight.

The Start of the Mexican-American War

The Election of 1844

• Incumbent President (not nominated): John Tyler

• Whig Candidate: Henry Clay

• Democratic Candidate: James K. Polk

• Winner: Polk

2. How did the United States solve the issue over Texas?

Polk signed a treaty to make Oregon a state which balanced out Texas becoming a state.

3. Why did this decision regarding Oregon cause tension with Mexico?

Mexico had never formally recognized Texan independence...the U.S. stated the border was the Rio Grande River while Mexico said it was the Nueces River.

4. What caused war to break out between the U.S. and Mexico?

Polk tried to buy land from Mexico (California and New Mexico) which upset Mexico.

Polk then sent General Zachary Taylor to the disputed land south of the Nueces, which Mexico saw as an act of war.

5. Why is it difficult to determine who started the Mexican-American War?

According to Polk, Mexico "ambushed" the U.S. troops at the border and asked Congress for a declaration of war.

But many criticized this saying that the Mexican Army was simply defending its territory.

Bonus (Don’t need to copy): Polk claimed that Mexico had forced this war by shedding “American blood upon American soil.” Abraham Lincoln went onto call him out about this not long after the war began.

Major Events

6. Stephen Kearny invaded and captured Santa Fe.

Major Events

7. He next went to California but they had already begun a revolt against Mexico. Joining forces, the Bear Flag Rebellion led to the capture of California.

Major Events

8. The U.S. then invaded Mexico and captured many key cities along the way.

Major Events

9. In 1848 the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed and the war ended.

The End of the Mexican-American War

10. What did the treaty recognize and which territories did the U.S. gain? Did Mexico receive anything from the treaty?

• Mexico recognized the annexation of Texas and gave up a large amount of land.

• BONUS (Don’t need to copy): This included parts of present-day California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico.

10. What did the treaty recognize and which territories did the U.S. gain? Did Mexico receive anything from the treaty?

• In return the U.S. paid $18 million dollars to Mexico and then another $10 million in 1853 for a narrow strip of present-day Arizona and New Mexico.

• 
  

Multiple Choice

Who won the Election of 1844?

• John Tyler

• Henry Clay

• James Polk

• Abraham Lincoln

Multiple Select

Which two states were added to the United States prior to the Mexican-American War?

• Oregon

• Missouri

• Maine

• Texas

Multiple Choice

Who was sent by the U.S. to the land south of the Nueces River as war was near?

• John Tyler

• Zachary Taylor

• Ulysses S. Grant

• George Washington

Multiple Choice

Who started the Mexican-American War?

• United States

• Mexico

• Undetermined

• Russia

Multiple Choice

Which territory within Mexico was in open rebellion as the War began?

• Utah

• Yucatan

• Nueces

• California

Multiple Choice

When did the Mexican-American War end?

• 1846

• 1847

• 1848

• 1849

Multiple Choice

Which of the following states was NOT part of the land acquired by the U.S. at the end of the war?

• Arizona

• Idaho

• Nevada

• Colorado