Mexican-American War Vocabulary

Flashcards about the Mexican-American War

Nueces River

River claimed by Santa Ana as the southern border of Texas.

Rio Grande

River claimed by the US as the southern border of Texas.

Zachary Taylor

US General sent to South Texas during the border dispute with Mexico.

Thornton Affair

11 American troops were killed. Which was exploited by the US government to declare war on Mexico in 1846

Spot Resolutions

Speeches given by Abraham Lincoln questioning President Polk's justification for the Mexican-American War.

John Quincy Adams

Former president and Whig leader who opposed the Mexican-American War.

Stephen Kearney and John C. Frémont

US Generals who succeeded in taking California and New Mexico.

Winfield Scott

US General who captured Mexico City in 1847.

Jefferson Davis

Future Confederate President, who fought alongside Zachary Taylor in the Mexican-American War.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Treaty that ended the Mexican-American War, ceding California and New Mexico to the US and recognizing the Rio Grande as the border.

Filibusters

Southern schemers who tried to engineer coups in Latin America to create pro-slavery puppet states.

Texas

A providence in northeastern Mexico in the early 19th century

Battle of San Jacinto

Santa Anna’s defeat at the Battle of San Jacinto was so total that he was forced to recognize the independence of Texas.