The Mexican American War began on May 13th, 1846, when Congress declared war on Mexico, but no official declaration of war came from Mexico. But what caused this war? How did it end?
Texas gained it's independence from Mexico in 1836. At first, the U.S. declined to incorporate the land into the union because northern lawmakers thought against a new slave state. Mexico was also threatening that any annexation of Texas of the United states would automatically lead to war. Ignoring these things, annexation was quickly initiated after the election of President James K. Polk in 1844, who thought that Tex should be "re-annexed" and the Oregon territory "re-occupied". He also set his eyes on claiming California, New Mexico and the rest of what is today in the Southwest U.S. His offer of purchasing the land was rejected, so he instigated a fight by moving troops into disputed land between Rio Grande and Nueces River. On April 25th. 1846, Mexican cavalry attacked a group of American soldiers led by the command of General Zachary Taylor, killing about a dozen. They then attacked an American fort along the Rio Grande. Taylor had to called in reinforcements with superior rifles and artillery and ended up defeating Mexico in the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma.
The U.S. army began to advance further into Mexican territory. At that time, about 75,000 Mexicans lived north of Rio Grande. This made the lands easily conquered by U.S. forces led by Colonel Stephen W. Kearny and Commander Robert F. Stockson. General Taylor also had little trouble with advancing into Mexican land, including capturing Monterrey in September 1846.
Old military general Antonia Lopez de Santa Anna had been living exiled in Cuba. Santa Anna convinced President Polk that if they got Mexico to allow him back in, he would end the war on favorable terms for the U.S. However, when he arrived, he double-crossed the U.S., taking control of the Mexican army and heading it into battle. After the Battle of Buena Vista (for more information about the battles click here) in February of 1847, Santa Anna suffered a heavy loss of many casualties and was forced to withdraw from the battle. Despite this loss, Santa Anna assumed Mexican presidency in the following month.
Meanwhile, General Winfield Scott and U.S. troops landed in Veracruz and captured the city. They then marched towards Mexico City. Mexicans resisted at Cerro Gordo and elsewhere but were defeated by the U.S. each time. In September of 1847, Scott was successful in the capture of Mexico City's Chapultepec Castle. During this fight, a group of military school cadets committed suicide rather than surrendering to the U.S.
Continuous guerilla attacks against the U.S. went on but the purposes of the war had ended. Santa Anna resigned, and the U.S. waited for a new government capable of negotiations to form. On February 2nd,1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, that agreed to establishing Rio Grande and the Nueces River as the new U.S. Mexican border, and also recognizing the U.S. annexation of Texas, and Mexico agreed to sell California and the rest of it's territory north of the Rio Grande for $15 million. The Mexican American War transformed the nation by adding territory like Texas, California, and New Mexico.
Texas gained it's independence from Mexico in 1836. At first, the U.S. declined to incorporate the land into the union because northern lawmakers thought against a new slave state. Mexico was also threatening that any annexation of Texas of the United states would automatically lead to war. Ignoring these things, annexation was quickly initiated after the election of President James K. Polk in 1844, who thought that Tex should be "re-annexed" and the Oregon territory "re-occupied". He also set his eyes on claiming California, New Mexico and the rest of what is today in the Southwest U.S. His offer of purchasing the land was rejected, so he instigated a fight by moving troops into disputed land between Rio Grande and Nueces River. On April 25th. 1846, Mexican cavalry attacked a group of American soldiers led by the command of General Zachary Taylor, killing about a dozen. They then attacked an American fort along the Rio Grande. Taylor had to called in reinforcements with superior rifles and artillery and ended up defeating Mexico in the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma.
The U.S. army began to advance further into Mexican territory. At that time, about 75,000 Mexicans lived north of Rio Grande. This made the lands easily conquered by U.S. forces led by Colonel Stephen W. Kearny and Commander Robert F. Stockson. General Taylor also had little trouble with advancing into Mexican land, including capturing Monterrey in September 1846.
Old military general Antonia Lopez de Santa Anna had been living exiled in Cuba. Santa Anna convinced President Polk that if they got Mexico to allow him back in, he would end the war on favorable terms for the U.S. However, when he arrived, he double-crossed the U.S., taking control of the Mexican army and heading it into battle. After the Battle of Buena Vista (for more information about the battles click here) in February of 1847, Santa Anna suffered a heavy loss of many casualties and was forced to withdraw from the battle. Despite this loss, Santa Anna assumed Mexican presidency in the following month.
Meanwhile, General Winfield Scott and U.S. troops landed in Veracruz and captured the city. They then marched towards Mexico City. Mexicans resisted at Cerro Gordo and elsewhere but were defeated by the U.S. each time. In September of 1847, Scott was successful in the capture of Mexico City's Chapultepec Castle. During this fight, a group of military school cadets committed suicide rather than surrendering to the U.S.
Continuous guerilla attacks against the U.S. went on but the purposes of the war had ended. Santa Anna resigned, and the U.S. waited for a new government capable of negotiations to form. On February 2nd,1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed, that agreed to establishing Rio Grande and the Nueces River as the new U.S. Mexican border, and also recognizing the U.S. annexation of Texas, and Mexico agreed to sell California and the rest of it's territory north of the Rio Grande for $15 million. The Mexican American War transformed the nation by adding territory like Texas, California, and New Mexico.
Click here to learn more about the Mexican American War through a fun interactive.
The picture of the jigsaw puzzle makes up a piece of art that portrays U.S. general Winfield Scott riding into Mexico City during the Mexican-American War.