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