Mexican - American War
Storyboard Text
- President James K. Polk wanted to lay claim to California, New Mexico and disputed land on the Texas border, after his predecessor annexed the Republic of Texas. These lands belonged to Mexico, who didn’t want to let go of that land.
- I will claim the land west of Texas for the US! Regardless of what Mexico thinks!
- Polk tried buying the land by sending diplomat John Slidell to Mexico to make a deal, but after the Mexican government refused to meet Slidell, Polk determined to get the land sent American troops to provoke the Mexicans.
- How can I offer the $30 million for the land if the Mexican government won’t even meet with me?
- That’s it, it is time to send our troops to Texas!
- Were you not able to buy the land?
- Mexican troops fire on American ones on April 25, 1846, giving polk a reason to declare war. War was officially declared by Congress on May 11. Many people speculated that the war only broke out due to American instigation, leading to debates of whether or not the war was fair.
- Americans had tremendous success on the battlefield. Generals Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott won a series of remarkable victories against the Mexican armies, even though they were outnumbered by the Mexican Army.
- In September of 1847, American troops captured Mexico City, Mexico's capital, and the fighting ended.
- The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo sealed the American victory. In return for $15 million and the assumption of Mexican debts to Americans, American were given control of massive territory which included parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado and Wyoming. The treaty was approved on March 10, 1848.
- In return for $15 million, you will give us hold of California and New Mexico.
- As long as you help us with our debt. Let us put in a treaty!
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