Mexican American War (jan 4, 1846 – jun 20, 1848)
Description:
Cause—
the annexation of Texas caused diplomatic problems with Mexico.
US and Mexico disagree about the southern border of Texas
Polk sent John Slidell (Slidell Mission) to Mexico in order to buy New Mexico and California and settle the dispute over Mexico. The Mexico govt refuded to sell the land and disputed the Texan claim of independence.
Fighting occurred at the Rio Grande River between Gen. Zachary Taylor and the Mexican army. Polk sends troops the establish Rio Grande and US-Mexico border
The Mexican War—SEE MAP and AMSCO page 234
Effect—
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hildalgo in 1848 ended the war and provided for the following: 1) Mexico would recognize the Rio Grande as the southern border of Texas 2) The U.S would take possession of California and New Mexico—the Mexican Cession.
The US would pay $15 million for the land.
The BIG issue here was that now we have all this land and as territories become state, the issue whether it will be slave of free causes sectional problems between North and South—leads to the Civil War.
Added to timeline:
APUSH Timeline
Date:
