5.3_The MEXICAN-AMERICAN War & Its PROBLEMS [APUSH Review]

These flashcards cover key concepts and important figures related to the Mexican-American War, helping to clarify the historical context and implications of the conflict.

Manifest Destiny

The 19th-century doctrine that the expansion of the United States throughout the American continents was both justified and inevitable.

James K. Polk

The 11th President of the United States, who was a proponent of expansionism and led the country during the Mexican-American War.

Mexican-American War

A conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848, driven by the U.S. desire to expand its territory.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

The 1848 treaty that ended the Mexican-American War and resulted in Mexico ceding over half of its territory to the U.S.

Wilmot Proviso

An unsuccessful proposal introduced in 1846 to ban slavery in territories acquired from Mexico.

Texas Revolution

The 1836 revolt by Anglo-American settlers in Texas against Mexican rule, leading to Texas's independence.

Tihanos

Mexican citizens living in the territories ceded from Mexico to the U.S. following the Mexican-American War.

Cortina Wars

A series of conflicts led by Juan Cortina against Anglo settlers in southern Texas, aimed at resisting American expansion.

Rio Grande and New River

The disputed borders between Texas and Mexico during the lead-up to the Mexican-American War.

American Indian conflicts

Struggles between U.S. settlers and Native American tribes, particularly the Comanche, following the Mexican-American War.

Historical War: Mexican-American War (1846-1848)

Context: Rooted in the ideology of Manifest Destiny and the failure of the Slidell Mission to purchase California. Description: A major conflict between the United States and Mexico over territorial claims. Cause and Effect: Caused by the U.S. annexation of Texas and border disputes at the Rio Grande; resulted in a massive U.S. territorial gain through the Mexican Cession and intensified national divisions over slavery.

Historical Figure: James K. Polk

Context: Elected in 1844 as an expansionist Democrat. Description: 11th President of the United States. Views: Firmly believed in Manifest Destiny and the necessity of acquiring California and settling the Oregon territory. Impact: Successfully annexed Texas and led the U.S. through the Mexican-American War, dramatically expanding the nation's borders.

Historical Theme/Policy: Manifest Destiny

Context: A mid-19th century American cultural and political belief. Description: The assertion that the U.S. was divinely destined to expand across the North American continent. Cause and Effect: Caused by nationalism and a desire for western land; resulted in the onset of the Mexican-American War and the displacement of existing populations.

Historical Agreement: Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

Context: Signed in 1848 following the defeat of Mexico. Description: The peace treaty that formally ended the Mexican-American War. Cause and Effect: Caused by the U.S. victory; resulted in the Mexican Cession, the establishment of the Rio Grande as the U.S. border, and a 15 million payment to Mexico.

Historical Document: Wilmot Proviso (1846)

Context: Proposed during the early stages of the Mexican-American War. Description: A legislative proposal to ban slavery in any territory acquired from Mexico. Cause and Effect: Caused by Northern anxiety over the expansion of slave states; resulted in fierce sectional tensions and fueled the political fire leading toward the Civil War.

Historical Figure: Abraham Lincoln (War Era)

Context: A Whig representative in Congress during the late 1840s. Description: Future president known for his early opposition to the war. Views: Questioned the legality and morality of the conflict with Mexico. Impact: Introduced the Spot Resolution, challenging President Polk's assertion that Mexico had shed American blood on American soil.

Historical Group: Tejanos

Context: Mexican residents living in Texas prior to and during U.S. annexation. Description: A marginalized population in the newly acquired U.S. territories. Cause and Impact: Many were disenfranchised by the influx of Anglo settlers; they faced systemic racism, loss of land, and pressure to assimilate into Anglo-American culture.

Geography: The Rio Grande vs. Nueces River

Impact: The dispute over which river constituted the true border of Texas served as the primary spark for the war. When General Zachary Taylor's troops crossed the Nueces into the disputed territory toward the Rio Grande, it prompted the military skirmish that Polk used to justify a declaration of war.

Historical Conflict: Cortina Wars

Context: Post-war Texas borderlands (1850s and beyond). Description: A series of armed skirmishes led by Juan Cortina against Anglo encroachment. Cause and Effect: Caused by the systemic mistreatment of Tejanos and the theft of their land; resulted in decades of ethnic conflict and resistance in the Rio Grande Valley.

Historical Document: The Spot Resolution

Context: 1846 congressional proceedings. Description: A resolution demanding the exact location of the skirmish that started the war. Cause and Effect: Caused by anti-war sentiment among Whigs like Lincoln; resulted in a public challenge to the expansionist narrative of the Polk administration.

Historical Event: Annexation of Texas (1845)

Context: Texas had been an independent republic for ten years. Description: The legislative process of admitting Texas as a U.S. state. Cause and Effect: Caused by Polk's 1844 election mandate; resulted in the breaking of diplomatic relations with Mexico and set the stage for immediate war.

Historical Figure: John C. Calhoun

Context: A leading Southern Democrat. Description: A champion of states' rights and slavery. Views: While supporting slavery, he expressed racial concerns about the full annexation of Mexico, fearing the integration of non-white populations. Impact: His views highlighted the complex racial and political dynamics of the slavery debate during the war.

Historical Decision: The Mexican Cession

Context: The central territorial component of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Description: The surrender of more than half of Mexico's land to the United States. Cause and Effect: Caused by Mexico's military defeat; resulted in the U.S. acquisition of modern-day California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Arizona and New Mexico.

Vocabulary: Manifest Destiny

Description: The 19th-century doctrine or belief that the expansion of the US throughout the American continents was both justified and inevitable.