The New Mexico Territory
1. In the early 1800s, New Mexico included present-day New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming.
2. When Mexico won its independence in 1821, it gained the lands of New Mexico and left the New Mexicans to govern themselves.
3. Althoug the Spanish attempted to keep the Americans away from New Mexico and Santa Fe at first, they started to welcome traders in hopes of boosting the economy.
The Santa Fe Trail
1. In 1821, William Becknell made his way to Santa Fe along the Santa Fe Trail which ran from the Missouri River to the Rocky Mountains.
2. Many traders continued to use this route until a railroad was created during 1880.
3. When the idea of Manifest Destiny began to spread, many Americans wanted to acquire New Mexico and the Mexican territory of California as well.
2. When Mexico won its independence in 1821, it gained the lands of New Mexico and left the New Mexicans to govern themselves.
3. Althoug the Spanish attempted to keep the Americans away from New Mexico and Santa Fe at first, they started to welcome traders in hopes of boosting the economy.
The Santa Fe Trail
1. In 1821, William Becknell made his way to Santa Fe along the Santa Fe Trail which ran from the Missouri River to the Rocky Mountains.
2. Many traders continued to use this route until a railroad was created during 1880.
3. When the idea of Manifest Destiny began to spread, many Americans wanted to acquire New Mexico and the Mexican territory of California as well.
California's Spanish Culture
1. In the 1760s, Spanish missionaries such as Captain Gaspar de Portolá and Father Juníperro Serra, built several missions that stretched from San Diego to Sonoma.
2. The Spanish had 21 missions that they used to convince almost 20,000 Natives to convert their religion to Christianity.
3. Some considered these missions a place to farm and learn while others considered it similar to a slave labor camp.
California after 1821
1. In 1821, California became a state of the New Mexico territory and many emigrants migrated there from Mexico.
2. In 1833, the Mexican government abolished all missions, selling the land to Mexican settlers, who used them to build ranchos.
3. The rancheros treated the Native Americans working for them in exchange for food and shelter, like slaves.
Manifest Destiny and California
1. At first, the Mexican government welcomed the traders, merchants, and families that came from the United States to find places to live and work.
2. As the idea of Manifest Destiny spread, Americans wanted to annex California and take advantage of the Pacific Ocean.
3. When the Mexican government refused to sell both California and New Mexico, the U.S. decided to take over by force.
2. The Spanish had 21 missions that they used to convince almost 20,000 Natives to convert their religion to Christianity.
3. Some considered these missions a place to farm and learn while others considered it similar to a slave labor camp.
California after 1821
1. In 1821, California became a state of the New Mexico territory and many emigrants migrated there from Mexico.
2. In 1833, the Mexican government abolished all missions, selling the land to Mexican settlers, who used them to build ranchos.
3. The rancheros treated the Native Americans working for them in exchange for food and shelter, like slaves.
Manifest Destiny and California
1. At first, the Mexican government welcomed the traders, merchants, and families that came from the United States to find places to live and work.
2. As the idea of Manifest Destiny spread, Americans wanted to annex California and take advantage of the Pacific Ocean.
3. When the Mexican government refused to sell both California and New Mexico, the U.S. decided to take over by force.
War with Mexico
1. In hopes of gaining the Pacific Ocean, President Polk plotted to gain control of California and New Mexico by means of war.
2. Especially after the annexation of Texas, the relationship between Mexico and the U.S. had been strained and President Polk hopes to provoke the Mexicans into attacking first.
3. Polk sent John Slidell to Mexico to offer $30 million for California and New Mexico, and agreed to pay off Mexico's debt and compromise the Texas-Mexico border at Rio Grande.
Conflict Begins
1. When Mexico announced that they would attempt to reclaim Texas, Polk sent General Zachary Taylor to defend the Texas-Mexico border.
2. Mexican troops attacked Taylor's fort, giving Polk a reason to declare war on Mexico.
3. Congress officially declared war on the Mexicans on May 11, 1846.
American Attitudes Toward the War
1. The Democrats supported the war, the Whigs opposed the war, and the Northerners considered it a way to spread slavery.
2. Abraham Lincoln, an Illinois congressman, claimed that the spot where the Mexican soldiers had attacked was not American grounds, giving Polk no reason to start a war.
3. Many Americans, like Frederick Douglass and many of the Northerners, believed that the South would spread slavery into this new territory.
Polk's War Plan
1. President Polk planned to drive the troops away from the border and secure it, sieze California and New Mexico, and capture Mexico City, the capital of Mexico.
2. In 1846, General Zachary Taylor captured Matamoros and Monterry before defeating the troops at Buena Vista the following year.
3. Meanwhile, General Watts Kearny led 1,500 soldiers to New Mexico, where they captured Santa Fe on August 18, 1846 before moving on to California.
California and the Bear Flag Republic
1. In June 1846, the U.S. captured Sonoma and declared California's independence, remaming it as the Bear Flag Republic.
2. John C. Frémont and Kit Carson joined the troops at Sonoma.
3. Frémont angered many Californios with his promises to conquer California.
Naval Intervention
1. In July 1846, Commodore John Sloat and his Navy squadron captured 2 ports in Monterry and San Francisco, and declared California's annexation the the U.S.
2. Sloat's forces met with Kearny's forces after capturing San Diego.
3. After Sloat's fleet left, the Californios initiated a rebellion that died fown after Kearny arrived, and by 1847, California was completely controlled by the U.S.
The Capture of Mexico City
1. After completing the first 2 parts of his plans, Polk began the task of capturing Mexico City by assigning the role of doing so to General Winfield Scott.
2. Landing in Veracruz, Scott captured the port city before leading his troops to the capital.
3. Although the U.S. lost 1,721 soldiers to battle, 11,000 men to disease, and almost $11 million, Mexico suffered the loss of half its territory.
The Peace Treaty
1. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed in the February of 1848.
2. The Rio Grande became the Texas-Mexico border and Mexico ceded California and New Mexico to the U.S. during the Mexican Cession.
3. The U.S. gave Mexico $15 million plus an extra $10 million for the Gadsden Purchase, the strip of land along the southern edge of Arizona and New Mexico.
2. Especially after the annexation of Texas, the relationship between Mexico and the U.S. had been strained and President Polk hopes to provoke the Mexicans into attacking first.
3. Polk sent John Slidell to Mexico to offer $30 million for California and New Mexico, and agreed to pay off Mexico's debt and compromise the Texas-Mexico border at Rio Grande.
Conflict Begins
1. When Mexico announced that they would attempt to reclaim Texas, Polk sent General Zachary Taylor to defend the Texas-Mexico border.
2. Mexican troops attacked Taylor's fort, giving Polk a reason to declare war on Mexico.
3. Congress officially declared war on the Mexicans on May 11, 1846.
American Attitudes Toward the War
1. The Democrats supported the war, the Whigs opposed the war, and the Northerners considered it a way to spread slavery.
2. Abraham Lincoln, an Illinois congressman, claimed that the spot where the Mexican soldiers had attacked was not American grounds, giving Polk no reason to start a war.
3. Many Americans, like Frederick Douglass and many of the Northerners, believed that the South would spread slavery into this new territory.
Polk's War Plan
1. President Polk planned to drive the troops away from the border and secure it, sieze California and New Mexico, and capture Mexico City, the capital of Mexico.
2. In 1846, General Zachary Taylor captured Matamoros and Monterry before defeating the troops at Buena Vista the following year.
3. Meanwhile, General Watts Kearny led 1,500 soldiers to New Mexico, where they captured Santa Fe on August 18, 1846 before moving on to California.
California and the Bear Flag Republic
1. In June 1846, the U.S. captured Sonoma and declared California's independence, remaming it as the Bear Flag Republic.
2. John C. Frémont and Kit Carson joined the troops at Sonoma.
3. Frémont angered many Californios with his promises to conquer California.
Naval Intervention
1. In July 1846, Commodore John Sloat and his Navy squadron captured 2 ports in Monterry and San Francisco, and declared California's annexation the the U.S.
2. Sloat's forces met with Kearny's forces after capturing San Diego.
3. After Sloat's fleet left, the Californios initiated a rebellion that died fown after Kearny arrived, and by 1847, California was completely controlled by the U.S.
The Capture of Mexico City
1. After completing the first 2 parts of his plans, Polk began the task of capturing Mexico City by assigning the role of doing so to General Winfield Scott.
2. Landing in Veracruz, Scott captured the port city before leading his troops to the capital.
3. Although the U.S. lost 1,721 soldiers to battle, 11,000 men to disease, and almost $11 million, Mexico suffered the loss of half its territory.
The Peace Treaty
1. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed in the February of 1848.
2. The Rio Grande became the Texas-Mexico border and Mexico ceded California and New Mexico to the U.S. during the Mexican Cession.
3. The U.S. gave Mexico $15 million plus an extra $10 million for the Gadsden Purchase, the strip of land along the southern edge of Arizona and New Mexico.