Cause and Effect The Mexican-American War - PowerPoint Presentation

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Cause and EffectThe Mexican-American War

Objective : Determining the causes of the Mexican American WarSlide2

The Annexation of Texas by the U.S. angered the Mexican Government.Mexico never acknowledged Texas as independent and felt the U.S. had no right to take its territory.

Mexico also did not acknowledge the Treaty of Velasco which set the southern border of Texas as the Rio Grande.

U.S.-Mexico DisputesSlide3

The loss of Texas will inevitably result in the loss of New Mexico and the Californias. Little by little our territory will be absorbed until only an insignificant part is left to us.... Our national existence... will end like those weak meteors that, from time to time, shine fitfully in the firmament (sky) and disappear.

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José Maria Tornel y Mendivil Slide4

Area in Dispute

Nueces River

Rio Grande River

The U.S. and Texas considered the Rio Grande as the Southern border. For Mexico it was the NuecesSlide5

Why would the Mexican government not accept the treaty of Velasco?Santa Anna only signed the treaty of Velasco because his life was in danger. Slide6

Manifest Destiny

Another issue with Mexico was Manifest Destiny.The land that the United States desired out west (California especially) was all controlled by Mexico. Slide7

The U.S. Perspective

Most Americans sympathized with Texas during the Texas revolution and republic days because most Texans were former Americans.

As a result of the brutal fighting (at the Alamo, Massacre at Goliad, and other times) the American public developed negative stereotypes against the Mexican people and government

Stereotype: A belief that is incorrectly attributed to an entire group of peopleSlide8
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Effort to ease the tensions

After Texas Annexation, Mexico threatened war. U.S. President James K. Polk sent John Slidell to Mexico to work for better relations between the two countries.

John SlidellSlide10

Slidell’s Mission

1)

Get Mexican recognition of the Rio Grande as the border between Mexico and the United States 2) To forgive about $4.5 million owed to U.S. citizens by Mexico from the Mexican War of Independence 3) To discuss the purchase of the New Mexico and CaliforniaThe Mexican government refused to talk with Slidell which angered the U.S. Slide11

The Thornton Affair

A company of U.S. Calvary commanded by Captain Seth Thornton got into a skirmish with Mexican forces near the Rio Grande.

Thornton was ordered to scout an area about twenty miles northwest of what later became Brownsville, Texas. In April 1846, the Calvary, investigated an abandoned hacienda (Ranch). Some two thousand Mexican soldiers were encamped in and around the hacienda, and a firefight occurred. Both sides fought ferociously, but the greatly outnumbered U.S. force was forced to surrender after several hours of skirmishing.

Thornton was outnumbered

By about 1900 men.

Skirmish: A small battleSlide12

President Polk asked for a declaration of war before a joint session of the United States Congress, summing up the need for war by famously stating:

"American blood has been shed on American soil". Congress declared war on Mexico, despite protests by the Mexican government that Thornton had crossed the border into Mexican Texas — a border that Mexico claimed as the Nueces River. the ensuing Mexican-American War was waged from 1846-1848 and witnessed the loss of many thousands of lives and nearly half of the territory of Mexico.

Presidents Polk’s ResponseSlide13

US Problems with Mexico1) Americans had a negative view of Mexico because of the Texas Revolution

2) Mexico owed the U.S. money for the Mexican Revolution against Spain

Mexican Problems with US.

1) Mexico felt that Texas was being stolen from them.

2) Mexico didn’t believe in

Manifest Destiny

and didn’t want to give away their land. Slide14

Vote Yes-Declare War

Treaty of Velasco is validBelief in Manifest DestinyTexas Annexation is legal

Vote no-not to Declare War

Will expand slavery

Manifest Destiny is unfair to Mexico

Treaty of Velasco is a sham and not valid

Annexation is illegal without Mexico approval. Slide15

POLK’s Speech Video