5.3 Mexican American War

What did President Polk send John Slidell to do regarding Mexico

he sent Slidell to

1. persuade Mexico to sell the California and new Mexico territories

2. settle the disputed Mexico-Texas border

How did Mexico respond to John Slidell

the Mexican government refused to sell the California territory and insisted the Texas border was the Nueces River, not the Rio Grande as Slidell suggested

immediate causes of war

president Polk orders general Zachary Taylor to move his army toward the Rio Grande. A Mexican army crossed the Rio Grande and then proceeded to kill 11 American soldiers. Polk used this as a reason to justify sending a war message to congress as he believed that American blood had been spilled on American soil.

congress APPROVES

1. Stephen Kearney

2. John C Fremont

3. Zachary Taylor

4. Winfield Scott

1. succeeded in taking new Mexico territory and southern California territory

2. overthrew Mexican rule in northern California

3. drove Mexican army from Texas, crossed the Rio Grande and secured a major victory at Buena vista

4. conquered mexico city

Treaty of Guadelupe Hidalgo

1. Mexico recognizes Rio Grande as southern border of Texas

2. US takes control of New Mexico and California- known as the Mexican Cession

why did Whigs oppose the Treaty of Guadelupe Hidalgo

they saw it as a democrat scheme to expand slavery

why were southern democrats upset with the treaty

they wanted the US to take all of Mexico, because they were expansionists. Because of the Missouri compromise, the region was a place where slavery could expand.

Wilmot Proviso

forbade slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico

1. DEFEATED in senate by southern democrats

How did the Mexican American war lead to the civil war

it ignited secular tensions surrounding slavery and brought back old debates