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The Gasoline that Ignited the Fire
On March 2nd, 1846, Texas got its independence from Mexico after being recognized as a state belonging to the U.S. December 29, 1845. This led ended the connection with Mexico, leading to president James K. Polk sent John Slidell on an undercover mission to strike a deal with Mexico's president José Joaquín Herrera. This proposal was declined as he already knew that the president’s plans were to buy New Mexico and California. Polk then sent Zachary Taylor around January 1846 to keep an eye out. -
Overthrowing Vera Cruz
March 9, 1846, more US troops invaded Mexico, stopping at Vera Cruz. The troops were led by General Winfield Scott, and originally landed 3 miles from Vera Cruz. Scott and his men easily overthrew the Mexicans in the said city, and later, all of his men, all 10,000, came ashore with not a single life lost. -
The Beginning of the War
On April 25, 1846, the about a dozen of Zachary Taylor's US soldiers were brutally slain by the Mexican calvary. This was soon followed by an attempted siege of an American fort places along Rio Grande. Their General, Zachary Taylor, was quick to act and called reinforcements, saving the fort and allowing them to emerge victorious at the battles of Resca de la Palma and Palo Alto. -
Declaration of War
May 13, 1846, Congress immediately declared war on Mexico. Two days before, the USA’s eleventh president, James K. Polk had made an announcement to Congress about the strained relationship between Mexico and America had finally broken, saying, “The cup of forbearance has been exhausted, even before Mexico passed the boundary of the United States, invaded our territory, and shed American blood upon American Soil.” -
Capture of Santa Fe, New Mexico
Then, on August 15, 1846, U.S. soldiers led by Colonel Stephen W. Kearny seized Santa Fe, New Mexico. Originally started on August 8th and finally concluding on August 14th, then fully declared American victory on August 15th. Though, throughout the entire capture, no shots were fired between any Mexicans or Americans. -
Antonio López de Santa Anna
August 18, 1846, Antonio López de Santa Anna wrote a letter to Mexico offering his assistance during the war, but telling President James Polk that he intended to do it peacefully. Even though he’d been previously exiled and had been living in Cuba as a result, the Mexican president was becoming desperate and agreed to his terms, allowing him back. However, Santa Anna instantly double crossed Polk and led the Mexican army into war. -
The Defeat at Buena Vista
However, on February 22nd, 1847 at the battle of Buena Vista, Santa Anna’s army of 5,000 Mexican soldiers were utterly defeated by General Zachary Taylor troops. Suffering badly from the fight, the Mexican troops were forced to surrender, and ultimately withdrawing by nightfall. -
Battle of Chapultepec
Then come September 13, 1847, soldiers led by General Winfield Scott laid siege to Mexico City’s Chapultepec Castle, emerging victorious. However, during the fight, Scott and his troops encountered a cluster of military school cadets known as “niños héroes” who took their own lives in their determination to not surrender. -
Slowly Coming to an End
Slowly reaching wars end, on June 26, 1848, Santa Anna resigned as president and later died on June 21, 1876. Guerilla attacks against supply lines from America proceeded, but the original purposes for war dissipated. -
The End of the Mexican-American War
Finally, the war between Mexico and America ended on February 2nd, 1848. The purposes for war had vanished, and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, finally giving up on Texas, and selling California and giving up the rest of the territory north of the Rio Grande as well, while also making the Rio Grande the border between Mexico and America instead of Nueces River.
