Before the war
- Texas won its independence from Mexico in 1836.
- Texas made its wishes known that they wanted to be annexed into the United States of America and said that their border was the Rio Grande and not the Nueces river.
- The Mexican government declared that if Texas entered the union there would be bloodshed.
- On April 25, 1846, Mexican soldiers opened fire upon a group of U.S soldiers under the command of Zachary Taylor on American Soil.
- The battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma were fought before war was declare. The U.S were victorious in both battles due to superior rifles and artillery.
- Congress declared war on the country of Mexico on May 13 of the same year. Mexico never gave a formal declaration of war.
- However, the Whig party opposed the idea of war and even went to call it "pointless land grabbing."
War (1846-1848)
- A great portion of the Mexican population resided north of the Rio Grande. Due to their geographic location it separated the Mexican civilians from the Mexican government and military which made those lands easy to capture and put in the hands of the United States.
- When war broke out, General Santa Anna (the man who lead the Mexican forces to victory at the Alamo) assured President Polk that he could infiltrate the Government and end the war quickly, but he lied and aided the Mexican forces.
- The Americans lead by general Zachary Taylor pushed into the heart of Mexico and conquered the important city of Monterrey with ease. The American forces pushed onward and fought at the Battle of Buena Vista.
- Zachary Taylor did not agree with the invasion of Mexico. He let Mexican forces escape often times.
- Polk, angered with Taylor's actions, sent General Winfield Scott to capture the key port city of Veracruz and then ultimately Mexico City. The capture of Mexico City on September 14, 1847 ended the military conflict between the Americans and the Mexicans.
- The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the war between the nations on February 2, 1848. The treaty stated that Mexico must sell all lands above the Rio Grande to the United States for 15 million dollars.
|
|