THE WAR WITH MEXICO

Polk Urges WaR

• James K. Polk had many territorial aspirations.
• He wanted to bring New Mexico and California into the Union
• Polk supported Texas's claims over the Texas-Mexico Border.

Slidell'S Rejection

• In 1844, Santa Ann was ousted as Mexico's president.
• Polk sent John Slidell to Mexico.
• He wanted to purchase California and New Mexico.
• He also wanted to gain approval of the Rio Grande as the Texas border.
• Mexican officials refused

SLIDELL'S REJECTION

• Zachary Taylor was then ordered to march into Rio Grande and blockade the river
• Mexicans felt like their rights were being taken away.
• Americans believed in Polk's goals for expansion but not everybody wanted to do go to war.
• Slavery would soon emerge.

SECTIONAL ATTITUDE TOWARD WAR

• James Russell Lowell was not happy about the idea of war
• Southerners however liked the annexation of Texas.
• They saw it as an opportunity to extend slavery .
• Also to increase Southern power in congress.
• The war was transformed from the debate on war to debate on slavery.

SECTIONAL ATTITUDE TOWARDS WAR

• Northerners mainly opposed the war.
• They saw it as a way for southern domination.

THE WAR BEGINS

• Mexico had enough and sent troops across Rio Grande.
• Nine U.S. Soldiers were killed.
• Mexico had started the war according to Polk.
• Lincoln introduced a ''spot resolution"
• Polk's message persuaded the House to recognize a state of war with Mexico.

THE WAR BEGINS

• Some Whigs tried to oppose war but they weren't heard.
• The United States was launched into its first war on foreign territory.

KEARNY MARCHES WEST

• Stephen Kearny was sent to seize New Mexico and California.
• New Mexico fell to the United States without a shot being fired.
• Kearny then led the march to Southern California.

THE REPUBLIC OF CALIFORNIA

• 20 missions were set up along the California coast
• 12000 Mexican settlers had migrated to California.
• About 500 U.S Settlers also lived in California.
• Polk's offer to buy California rose the indignation of the Mexican government
• Republic of California - U.S. Forces were in control of California.

THE WAR IN MEXICO

• American troops kept getting victory after victory.
• Mexican soldiers labored under poor leadership.
• U.S. Soldiers served under the best officers.
• Polk Hatched a bizarre scheme with Santa Anna.
• Santa Ann broke his promise.

THE WAR IN MEXICO

• He resumed the presidency and ordered an attack.
• Mexicans army boasted superior numbers.
• But it's soldiers suffered from exhaustion.
• Taylor's more rested troops pushed Santa Anna into Mexico's interior.
• Covering 260 miles, Winfield Scott's army had lost not a single battle.

AMERICA GAINS THE SPOILS OF WAR

• Mexico lost at least 25000 lives.
• Americas victory came at the cost of about 13000 lives.
• The reward was the war enlarged the U.S. Territory by one-third.

THE TREATY OF GUADELOUPE HIDALGO

• United States and Mexico signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
• Mexico agreed to the Rio grande border for Texas.
• New Mexico and California was to the United States.
• Mexicans were guaranteed freedom of religion,protection of property.
• They were also guaranteed bilingual elections, and open borders.

THE TREATY OF GUADALUPE HIDALGO

• The Gadsden Purchase established borders of the lower 48 states.
• The settlement of Oregon and Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

TAYLOR'S ELECTION IN 1848

• The Whig nominee War hero Zachary Taylor was in the running.
• He easily won the election.
• Taylor's victory was soon overshadowed by The California Gold Rush.

THE CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH.

• James Marshall, an American Carpenter discovered Gold.
• He found it at Sutter's mill.
• Word of the chance discovery traveled east.

THE RUSH BEGINS

• Residents traveled to the Sacramento valley for gold.
• California skyrocketed, from 400 to 44000 in 2 years.
• Forty niners-The prospectors who flocked to California in the Gold rush.
• They were people from Asia, South America, and Europe.

GOLD RUSH BRINGS DIVERSITY

• By 1849,California's population increased 100,000
• The Chinese were the largest group to come from overseas.
• The wealthiest African Americans in the country were living in California
• Finally California did win statehood in 1850.

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