The Election of 1844 and US-Mexico War
The Election of 1844
- expansionists gain control of the Democratic Party
- they nominate James K. Polk (Tennessee)
- staunch pro-slavery expansionist
- platform: “the reoccupation of Oregon and the reannexation of Texas”
- appeals to the Northern and Souther expansionists
- Polk narrowly wins
- Tyler pushes Texas annexation through Congress via the Joint Resolution, days before leaving the White House
- Mexico severs diplomatic relations
The US-Mexico War, 1846-48
- contested Texas border
- Polk sent the United States Army into disputed territory, 1845
- April 24, 1846, skirmish on Rio Grande which led to battles
- United States Congress declared war on May 13
- United States invaded and occupied the northern Mexico, 1846-48
- claimed New Mexico and California as conquered United States territory
- Mexico refused to surrender
- March 1847, the United States invaded central Mexico by the sea
- captured Mexico City in September
- still there was no surrender
War’s Outcomes
- the United States negotiator Nicholas Trist agreed to a smaller territorial cession against Polk’s orders
- Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, 1848
- Mexico cedes nearly 1/2 of it’s territory, acknowledges Texas annexation
- United States pays $15 million to Mexico + $3.75 million to the United States citizens with claims against Mexico
- 500,000+ square miles at 5 cents per acre (not counting Texas)
- 1848, Gold Rush sends thousands to California
- conflict over the expansion of slavery into new territory began immediately