MEXICAN WAR

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MEXICAN WAR
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ANNEXATION

• To take over a territory and incorporate it into
  another entity (e.g., country, state)
• After Texas declared independence after its
  revolution, U.S. wanted to add it to the Union

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DEBATE OVER ANNEXATION

• Some were worried that TX would become ally of
  Great Britain if not admitted to the Union
• Others feared that admission of Texas would
  increase slave states power in Congress
• Annexation issue dominated Presidential election
  of 1844

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1844 ELECTION

• Henry Clay of KY vs. James K. Polk of TN
• Polk was for annexation of TX
• Clay refused to address the issue of TX in his
  campaign
• Polk won and took it as a sign that people wanted
  annexation
• His win also increased tension between Mexico and
  the U.S.

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CONFLICT WITH MEXICO

• Mexico warned that if U.S. admitted TX it would
  be seen as a declaration of war
• TX was admitted to the Union on March 3, 1845
• Polk wanted Mexico to recognize the Rio Grande
  River as its Northern border
• Polk sent John Slidell, a Louisiana lawyer to
  negotiate with Mexico
• Tried to persuade Mexico to recognize Rio Grande
  as border and sell NM and CA to the U.S.

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MEXICAN WAR

• On May 13, 1846 Congress declared war on Mexico
• Americans were critical of the war, especially
  Lincoln, who was then a Congressman
• Nicknamed the war Mr. Polks War because many
  believed there was no justification for it and
  that he wanted to acquire more slave territory

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WAR CONT

• Bear Flag Revolt
• Captain John Fremont and settlers in California
  revolted against Mexico and declared it an
  independent republic
• Siege of Mexico City
• General Winfield Scott led his troops in the
  final campaign of the war in Mexico City
• Lasted from March 1847-September 14, 1847, when
  the Mexicans surrendered

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TREATY OF GUADALUPE HIDALGO

• Treaty that ended the war in February 1848
• Mexico gave up all claims to Texas
• Mexican Cessionpresent-day states of California,
  Nevada, Utah
• U.S. agreed to pay Mexico 15 million, pay for
  the damages against Mexico, and grant citizenship
  to Mexicans living in Mexican Cession territory
• Gadsden PurchaseU.S. acquirement of Arizona and
  New Mexico

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Memorials
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CREATING A MEXICAN WAR MEMORIAL

• 1. What is the goal of your memorial?
• Do you wish to commemorate the war? Or do you
  want to condemn it?
• 2. Who is the target audience of your memorial?
• Are you appealing to the Mexicans who fought
  Americans who fought politicians involved?
• 3. Who would your memorial honor?
• 4. What words, if any, would be on your memorial?
• 5. In what city or state would your memorial
  live?
• 6. What would be the set up for your memorial?
• A plaque, statue, park, building, etc.
• If you want to be creative you could sketch it
• Additional group ideas about the memorial