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Adams-Onis Treaty
The Adoms-Onis Treat with spain is signed in Washington allowing for the american puchase of florida. In exchange the u.s. Gave up all claims to texas. -
The Alamo
Five thousand Mexican soldiers under General Santa Anna lay siege to the Alamo, a mission church in San Antonio, Texas, being used as a makeshift fortress by Texan rebels. Thirteen days later, on 6 March, the Mexican forces attack the Alamo and its 189 defenders. -
Battle of San Jacinto
General Sam Houston leads his forces to victory over General Antonio López de Santa Anna's Mexican soldiers. Santa Anna is taken prisoner forcing him to sign peace treaties granting Texas its independence: mexico Never recognizes this -
House Debates War
President Polk, who has been planning on declaring war against Mexico for almost a week, sends a war message to Congress on the first working day after hearing of the sixteen American casualties near the Rio Grande in Texas. The House is allowed only two hours to debate a bill that calls for fifty thousand volunteers and $10 million in military funding; it passes. -
California Revolt
Anglo-American settlers in California revolt against Mexican rule and form the Bear Flag Republic, reminiscent of the Texas independence movement. The short-lived Bear Flag Republic accomplishes very little, aside from antagonizing relations between the Anglos and the Spanish-Mexican Californio population. -
Oregon Settlement
A treaty signed with the British settles the boundaries of the Oregon Territory; the northern boundary of the United States will remain at the 49th parallel, from the Great Lakes to the Pacific. Although a diplomatic success, the Oregon settlement leads to an increase in sectional tensions over slavery and the issue of territorial expansion. -
Oregon Agreement
The British agree to an Oregon boundary at the 49th parallel, as long as Vancouver Island (some of which extends below the 49th parallel) remains entirely in British control. -
California Claimed for US
Shortly after landing ships at San Francisco and Sonoma, California, U.S. Naval forces under Commodore John D. Sloat raise the American flag to claim the land for the United States, thus ending the brief duration of the Bear Flag Republic. -
Wilmot Proviso
In Congress, Democratic representative David Wilmot introduces the momentous antislavery amendment that later comes to bear his name: the Wilmot Proviso. A proposed attachment to President Polk's request for $2 million to fund the war and to buy territory, the proviso would grant the president his funds only if any territory acquired was made free soil. The Proviso splits the Democratic Party, with southern Democrats unanimously opposing it while northern Democrats support it by a vote of 54-4. -
Trist Disobeys
President James K. Polk sends Nicholas P. Trist, the chief clerk in the State Department, to Mexico along with Gen. Winfield Scott's forces in order to negotiate a peace treaty with Mexico. Yet Scott's invasion of Mexico City so destabilizes the Mexican government that no negotiations can occur until the ensuing Mexican power struggle ends with a stable administration was in place. Polk tries to recall Trist, but Trist disobeys his orders, staying to sign the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in Febru -
Mexico in Crisis
General Winfield leads the American army into Mexico City. American occupation of the capital throws Mexico into crisis; Santa Anna resigns as president, thus leaving the Mexican government on verge of collapse. This prompts some die-hard expansionists in the U.S. to propose annexation of the entire Mexican republic. -
Batle of Buena Vista
President enraged with General Zachary Taylor for allowing Mexican forces to walk away armed after the Battle of Monterrey, transfers Taylor's forces to join Gen. Winfield Scott's invasion of central Mexico at Veracruz. Taylor is left to defend his position near Saltillo with an inexperienced force. To use to their advantage on the transfer of american troops, Mexican General Santa Anna heads north from San Luis Potosí with an army of 20,000. At the battle of Buena Vista, Santa Anna's forces bre -
Gold Discovered
James Marshall discovers gold at Sutter's Mill, along the American River near Sacramento, California. Had the Mexicans discovered California's gold earlier, history may well have turned out much differently. There would have been a much larger Mexican presence in California, possibly enough to withstand Manifest Destiny. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends the Mexican-American War. California, Nevada, Utah, most of New Mexico and Arizona, and the disputed regions of Texas are all obtained by the United States. All told, some 55% of Mexico's prewar territory is transferred to American sovereignty. President Polk actually wants even more land, but consents to the settlement when faced with growing public hostility to the war -
Free Soil Party
Anti-Slaver members of the whig and liberty parties join together in this party. Which does not stand for slavery in the new western territories.
