The Mexican American War was from 1846-1848. This war cost the United States over $100 million. This war was driven by the belief of "Manifest Destiny".
One main conflict for this war was that the U.S. had a desire to expand across the North American continent to the Pacific Ocean. This desire caused them to have conflicts with their neighbors the British, Mexicans, and the Native Americans. Ever since the Louisiana Purchase Americans started to migrate westward. In 1835 and 1845, the United States offered to purchase California from Mexico, for $5 million. The Mexican Government did not give up half of their country to their worst enemies. They refused the offer. The second cause of this war was the Texas War of Independence. In the 1820's and 1830's Mexico need settlers in the northern part of their country. In order to move to their country you would need to say an oath of allegiance to Mexico and covert to Catholicism. Many Americans took them up on this offer and moved to the Mexican province of Texas. Soon many of the "Texicans" were very unhappy with how the Mexican government tried to run the province. Two American armies moved south from Texas, while the third force traveled west to Santa Fe, New Mexico and then to California. In a series of battles the army of General Zachary Taylor defeated the Mexican forces and began to move south. In July and August of 1846, the United States Navy seized Monterey and Los Angeles in California. During this time, former President Santa Anna returned to Mexico and trained a new army of 20,000 men to oppose the invaders. On March 9th, 1847 General Scott landed with an army of 12,000 men on the beaches near Veracruz, Mexico's most important eastern port city. From March to August, Scott and Santa Anna fought a series of battles from coast inland toward Mexico City. The most important battles of this campaign were the Battles of: Cerro Gordo (April 18th), Contreras (August 20th), Churubusco (August 20th), Molino del Rey ( September 8th), and Cahpultepec (September 13th). Finally on September 14th, the American army entered Mexico City. By mid-October the U.S. army enjoyed full control. Following the city's occupation, Santa Anna resigned from his presidency, but still remained as commander of his army. On February 2nd, 1847, The Treaty of Guadeloupe Hidalgo was signed, soon to be ratified by the U.S. and Mexican Congress. This treaty called for annexation of the northern portions of Mexico to the United States. In return. the United States agreed to pay $15 million to Mexico. Consequences/ Benefits for this conflict:
http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz848869ba358.html Here is a fun quiz to test your knowledge on the Mexican-American War! LEQ: How did the westward expansion transform our nation? This battle helped our country form 5 states that probabaly wouldn't have been there without the Treaty of Guadeloupe Hidalgo. |