War With Mexico 1846 — 1848 Causes

War With Mexico 1846 - 1848

Causes of the War • Polk’s desire to expand the borders of the US • Mexico’s refusal to sell California & New Mexico • Texas boundary dispute – Nueces River vs. Rio Grande • John Fremont’s independent incursion into California • Border incident – Taylor’s forces blockade Rio Grande Provocation ? Or attack by Mexico?

Major Players 11 th President James K. Polk Favored war to bring Texas, New Mexico & California into union Generals Zachary Taylor, ‘Rough & Ready’ Winfield Scott, ‘Fuss & Feathers’ Won almost every battle vs. Mexicans that they fought. Led invasions of Eastern Mexico & Scott pushed to Mexico City. Politicians South wants War to gain land to expand slavery North opposes – Passes Wilmot Proviso prohibiting slavery in land won from Mexico in the war

Political Situation • Pres. Polk tries to buy TX, NM, & CA • Mexico weakened by leadership changes • General Herrera replaces Santa Ana as President – NO SALE • Polk favors war to take the land • Disputes the border of Texas & Mexico – Nueces vs. Rio Grande rivers

Political Situation • North opposes war – fears expansion of slavery • North sponsored “Wilmot Proviso” states any land from war would have no slavery. • South opposes war but wants land favors it after the “Wilmot Proviso” proposed. • Polk sends troops to ‘see what will happen’

Generals and Major Battles

Results of the War • Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo - Rio Grande River becomes US border - New Mexico & California Ceded to US - Mexico gets $15 Million as compensation - Size of US increases by about 33% • Gadsden Purchase - Enabled in 1853 by Pres. Pierce’s emissary James Gadsden - Made in anticipation of a railroad across the south. - Finalized the southern border of present day US.

California Here I Come! On January 24, 1848, James Marshall found this tiny piece of gold in a stream near John Sutter's sawmill in northern California.

Gold Rush of 1849 Major Gold Strikes 1848 www. pbs. org/wgbh/amex/goldrush/map/index. html In 1852 the take for the year was $80 million ($1. 9 billion in 2005 dollars). This map shows some of the important mines of the gold rush.

Two miners on Weber Creek gathered $17, 000 in gold in seven days; six miners with 50 Indians took out 273 pounds of gold.