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Texas: Who Owned It?
The U.S. and Mexico started to dispute who controled Texas. Mexico's defense was that Texas ended ended at the Nueces River( which was owned by Mexico) but, U.S.A.'s defense was that texas ended at Rio Grande( which was owned by the U.S.). This eventually lead to war. -
The Offer of 1845 and the Rejection of 1845
President James Polk sent a man named John Slidell and a few soldiers on a secret mission to Mexico City where they would try to settle the dispute about Texas and to trade about 30 million dollars for the contol of Californaia and New Mexico. The President of Mexico,José Joaquín Herrara, rejected the offer. -
The Attack of Talyor's Troops
The President of Mexico sent an unexpected attack on Taylor's troops by crossing the Rio Grande. President Polk declared this an attack on American soil and hereby stated, and I quote, " [They] invaded our territory and shed American blood on American soil." -
Hostilities: The Beginning
The small wars started on April 25, 1846. A clash between the two armies occurred, and General Zachary Taylor reported to Washington and to President Polk that thanks to Mexico, the hostilities had begun.The event eventually led to almost dozens of conflicts between the two neighboring countries. -
The Battle Of Palo Alto
Was the first major Mexican-American battle. Zachary Taylor approached north to Brownsville, Texas. He had broughten a 3,000 man force in order to take the state. Mexican General Mariano Arista countered by bringing a 4,000 nan force, also known as the Army of the North. -
The Decloration of War depart of the United States
The reason America declared war with Mexico because Mexican troops were stationed at Matamoros targeted Fort Brown. President James Polk declared this an invasion of American soil and therfore declared war. -
The Decloration of War: Different Perspectives
Many people in the U.S. viewed the decloration of war on Mexico differently. Democrats strongly supported and favored the start of conflict, most of the Whigs viewed Polks action just blindly land-grabbing and conscienceless, and abolitionists saw the war as a way to extend slavery by the slave states by enhancing their power when the soon-to-be-American states are in their control and more slave states are created. -
The US Takes and Doesn't Give Back
Stephen W. Kearny left Fort Leavenworth for New Mexico with some 1,600 men. Alexander Doniphan also helped with Missouri volunteers. Santa Fe was soon taken, a small government was formed, and Doniphan was placed in charge on that area. -
The Battle of Monterrey
General Zachary Taylor led his army of about 6,640 men to go and capture Monterrey. He did this on September 19. The actual battle happened 6 days later when Taylor fought General Pedro Ampudia and his 5,000 men army fight after he escaped form hiding. Fighting resumed on September 23 with the Americans making impressive gains before being ordered to fall back at sundown. -
The Final Attack Depart Of The U.S.
The U.S. army sent two armys: one which consisted of Taylor and his troops to invade the heart of Mexico and another army which consisted of an army led by Colonel Stephen Keary to capture New Mexico and California(Dang! Polk really wanted those two states!). -
The Battle of Buena Vista
Was probably the most dramatic battle of the whole entire war. Taylor, with about 5,000 inexperienced soliders, marched into Veracruz. Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna saw this as an opprotunity to show his power and finally crush those American pests. He brought his army of about..20,000!!!!!!!!! -
The Occupation Of Mexico
Despite the doubtful legitimacy of the U.S. war against Mexico, in general the regular U.S. Army behaved with respect toward the institutions and the populace of the country it occupied. This was exemplified in Matamoros. Gen. Zachary Taylor and Gen. Winfield Scott were both recongized. -
The Capture Of Veracruz
General Winfield Scott led an army of about 10,000 into Veracruz. They eventually bottled 3,000 troops led by General Juan Morales behind it's defenses. Also, they isolated about 1,000 soliders around the perimeter so the Mexican troops could not flee or retreat. THEY WANTED TO END IT HERE!!!! They failed though. -
The Battle of Cerro Gordo
Winfield Scott moved his army away from Vera Cruz and down the national road toward the interior. Mexican forces under General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna occupied the strategic mountain pass of Cerro Gordo to block the way. The collision of these two armies on April 18 began a string of American victories that led, ultimately, to the capture of Mexico City. -
The Battle of Contreras
The U.S. launched two major assaults, as part of General Winfield Scott’s sophisticated strategy to stall the 36,000-man army assembled by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna to defend Mexico City. General Gabriel Valencia, on the Mexican right flank, abandoned his assigned post and moved four miles down the road to the town of Contreras, placing this rough terrain between him and the Mexican left. -
The Battle of Churubusco
The Battle of Churubusco was part of a larger operation by U.S. forces under General Winfield Scott against Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna’s defense of Mexico City. Scott was in pursuit to attack Churubuscow when Santa Anna left his post for General Pedro Anaya who wasia bit inexperienced and weak, -
The Battle Of El Molino del Rey
U.S. General William J. Worth tried to conquer El Molino del Rey. Worth’s 3,400-man division advanced in two column advance against this position, with Brevet Brigadier General John Garland leading his brigade on the right against the Molino del Rey, Lieutenant Colonel James S. McIntosh leading his brigade on the left toward the Casa Mata, and Brigadier General George Cadwalader commanding the reserves. -
The Storming of Chapultepec
American General Winfield Scott ordered his army to take that position, directing General Gideon Pillow and his 2,500-man regular division to spearhead the assault, starting from the Molino del Rey to the west of Chapultepec. General John Quitman would lead his 2,500 troops in from the south and cut Chapultepec off from reinforcements, while General David Twiggs demonstrated against positions further east. -
The Entrance to Mexico's Captital
The final blow to General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna’s defense of Mexico City came on September 13 and 14. U.S. forces. U.S. General Winfield Scott ordered his commands to reorganize, consolidate, and prepare for savage house-to-house fighting the next day. The Americans - tired, shot up, but victorious - anxiously awaited the coming dawn. -
Winfield Scott: The Vicotious General
Polk revised his War plans and sent General Winfield Scott with a small army to Veracruz, capture that particular key port, and march right into Mexico City. The war officially ended when the capital of Mexico fell down. -
The End.
On February 1 1848, the Mexican representatives met Trist in the Villa of Guadalupe Hidalgo, across from the shrine of the patron saint of Mexico. They signed the treaty and then celebrated a mass together at the basilica. Trist only offered an indemnity of $15 million because he felt that the United States had already paid enough in "blood and treasure." -
The Peace Treaty?
Polk sent Nicholas Trist, chief clerk, to join Scott's forces and create or come up with a peace treaty with Mexico. Polk gew impatient when nothing was reported back to him so he recalled Trist but he ignored his intructions and signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. According to the treaty Mexico had to give New Mexico, Calforina, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Texas, and western Colorado for $15,000,000.
