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The Texas War for Independence and the Mexican-American War.
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Stephen Austin meets with Mexican President Santa Anna
Austin had traveled to Mexico City late in 1833 to present petitions for greater self-government for Texas to Mexican president Antonio López de Santa Anna.
Santa Anna suspended the 1824 Mexican constitution and had Austin imprisoned for inciting revolution which became known as the Texas Revolution -
The Battle of the Alamo
Late in 1835, the Texans attacked. They drove the Mexican forces from the Alamo, an abandoned mission and fort. Santa Anna swept north- ward and stormed and destroyed the small American garrison in the Alamo.
All 187 U.S. defenders died, including the famous frontiersmen Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett. Hundreds of Mexicans also perished. Only a few women and children were spared -
Battle of San Jacinto
The Texans defeated Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto led by Sam Houston. the Texans killed 630 of Santa Anna’s soldiers in 18 minutes and captured Santa Anna.
In September 1836, Houston became president of the Republic of Texas. -
Treaty of Velasco grants Texas Independence
Six weeks after the defeat of the Alamo, on April 21, the Texans struck back. The victorious Texans set Santa Anna free after he signed the Treaty of Velasco, which granted independence to Texas.
In September 1836, Houston became president of the Republic of Texas. The new “Lone Star Republic” set up an army and a navy and proudly flew its new silk flag with the lone gold star. -
U.S. annexes Texas
Sam Houston invited the United States to annex, or incorporate, the Texas republic into the United States.
in 1844, the U.S. presidential election featured a debate on westward expansion. On December 29, 1845, Texas became the 28th state in the Union. -
U.S. declares war on Mexico
Taylor positioned his forces at the Rio Grande in 1845–1846, John C. Frémont led an exploration party through Mexico’s Alta California province, another vio- lation of Mexico’s territorial rights.
Mexican soldiers killed 9 U.S. soldiers. Polk immediately sent a war message to Congress -
Slidell's Rejection
Polk the Purposeful sent a Spanish-speaking emissary, John Slidell, to Mexico to purchase California and New Mexico and to gain approval of the Rio Grande as the Texas border.
When Slidell arrived, Mexican officials refused to receive him. -
General Taylor marches troops across Rio Grande
Hoping for Mexican aggression that would unify Americans behind a war, Polk then issued orders for General Zachary Taylor to march to the Rio Grande and blockade the river.
Many Americans shared Polk’s goals for expansion, but public opinion was split over resorting to military action. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends war with Mexico
On February 2, 1848, the United States and Mexico signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Mexico agreed to the Rio Grande border for Texas and ceded New Mexico and California to the United States.
The United States agreed to pay $15 mil- lion for the Mexican cession, which included present-day California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, most of Arizona, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming. -
Gasden Purchase
President Franklin Pierce would authorize his emissary James Gadsden to pay Mexico an additional $10 million for another piece of territory south of the Gila River.
Along with the settlement of Oregon and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the Gadsden Purchase established the current borders of the lower 48 states.
