Texas wanted to be annexed US government wanted New Mexico and California Mexico did not want to Recognize Texas independence or annexation Sell New Mexico and California James K Polks ID: 654782
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Slide1
The Mexican WarSlide2
Mexican War, 1846-1848
Texas wanted to be annexed.
U.S. government wanted New Mexico and California.
Mexico did not want to:
Recognize Texas independence or annexation,
Sell New Mexico and CaliforniaSlide3
James K. Polk’s
Platform, 1844
Annexation of Oregon
Annexation of Texas
Acquisition of New Mexico and CaliforniaSlide4
United States, 1846Slide5
United States, 1846Slide6Slide7
“American blood has been shed on American soil !
January: Polk orders occupation of disputed area.
30 April, 1846: Mexican forces cross the Rio Grande.Slide8
U.S. Army vs. Mexican Army
U.S.
Professional
Long-service soldiers (5 yrs)
Most junior officers: USMA
Well-equipped
Well-led
Confident
Ethnocentric
Racist
Mexico
Some professional soldiers and some patriotic volunteers
Courageous, if well-led
Political senior officers
Poorly trained
Poorly equipped
Poorly led
Little real sense of Mexican nationalismSlide9
Operational Overview
1846
April - May: Opns. along the Rio Grande
Sept. 20-24, 1846: Battle of
Monterey
1847
22-23, Feb Battle of
Buena Vista
Doniphan Expedition:
Feb. 28, 1847: Battle of the Sacramento, Northern Mexico.
18 Aug: Santa Fe occupied
25 Sep: Kearny leaves for CA
6 Dec: Battle of San Pasqual,
Jan. 9, 1847: Battle of La Mesa (Los Angeles), Southern California.
Dec. 1846 - Feb. 1847: Rebellion in New Mexico
Texas-Mexico Border
New Mexico and CaliforniaSlide10
Operational Overview
9-29 Mar: Siege of Vera Cruz
18 Apr: Battle of Cerro Gordo
19-20 Aug: Battles of Contreras and Churubusco
8 Sep: Battle of El Molino del Rey
13 Sep: Battle of Chapultepec
13-15 Sep: Battles for Mexico City
[ Sep. 14-Oct. 12: Siege of Puebla ]
1847 - Mexico City CampaignSlide11Slide12
Battle of Palo AltoSlide13Slide14Slide15Slide16Slide17Slide18Slide19Slide20
The Approach to MonterreySlide21
After Monterrey . . .
Texas physically secured.
New Mexico occupied.
California secured by January
Now what ?Slide22
Political considerations . . .
Scott is a Whig with political aspirations.
Taylor has no party affiliation;
Assumption: Whig
The winning general will be the next President.
Polk wants a general who’s a Democrat.
Choice: Thomas Hart Benton, Senator from MOSlide23
The strategic decision . . .
An army will have to go into central Mexico.
Scott will head that army.
The army will land at Vera Cruz.Slide24
The Operational PlanSlide25Slide26Slide27
Scott’s problem . . .
Has to take Vera Cruz quickly.
Summer brings the “vomito”
Yellow Fever
Vera Cruz falls in 20 days.
On to Mexico City !Slide28
Cerro GordoSlide29Slide30Slide31Slide32Slide33Slide34Slide35Slide36
“The Halls of Montezuma”Slide37
Scott’s occupation policies . . .
Paid for supplies.
Enforced the law - against his soldiers.
Recognized the Church.
Eventually made peace with Nicholas Trist.
Trist eventually made peace.
Much of Scott’s glory lost in his squabble with Gideon Pillow.Slide38
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
2 Feb. 1848: Signed
10 March: U.S. Senate ratifies
25 May: Mexican government ratifies
Texas annexation recognized wit Rio Grande as the border.
New Mexico and California ceded for $15 million plus unpaid claims Slide39
The Cost
United States
1,177 KIA
3,669 WIA
11,155
Died of disease
16,001
Mexico
12,866 KIA
1,360 WIA
? Died of disease
??
Estimated cost to U.S.: $97,500,000Slide40
Results . . .
U.S. consolidates it continental position.
Question: Slaves in the territories ?
Mexico’s future linked to the U.S.
A mark on the Mexican soul.
Greater Mexican nationalism.Slide41
The objective was achieved at the least cost and in the most humane way possible.
The means and the ends matched perfectlySlide42
A war of conquest . . .
Poses an interesting moral question.
Was this a “just war” ?
Do you want to give the territory back ?Slide43
Legacy for the Army . . .
Mexico teaches a generation of officers how to fight:
Fire a volley and then charge.
Well-led soldiers can take any position.
Revolutionary War tactics and technology.
Success would blind many to the technological innovations of the 1850’s.