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Mexican American War
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Texas Admitted to the Union
On March 1, 1845, the current president of the United States, President John Tyler, signed the Congressional resolution to annex Texas as a new territory in the Union. -
United States Tried to Buy Land
President James Knox Polk sends John Slidell to Mexico to attempt to purchase Northern Mexican land, modern day California and New Mexico, from Mexico. When news of this reaches Mexico, the Mexican people are outraged and threaten their president, Herrera, calling him a traiter if he agrees to sell the Mexican land. To keep the public on his side, President Herrera refuses to meet with Slidell, preventing the aquisition of land. -
United States Troops are Stationed at the Disputed Texan Border
General Zachary Taylor marches his army past the Nueces River, which the Mexicans believe is the American-Mexican border. The army approaches the Rio Grande River, which the Americans believe should be the border. The territory in between the two rivers has been claimed by both nations. -
United States Declares War on Mexico
President Polk recieves Congressional approval to declare war on Mexico in the hopes of intimidating the Mexicans into relinquishing their lands. 50,000 volunteers and $10 million are raised for the war. -
Battle of Veracruz
10,000 American men landed on Collado Beach and marched up to Veracruz where they met the Mexican troops. The Americans dug in and bombarded the city for three days before the Mexicans surrendered the city on March 28th. This city would serve as an important supply base for the Americans and proved to be essential to the U.S. victory. -
Mexico City Surrendered
After the Battle of Mexico City, also known as the Battle of Chapultepec, the American forces occupy Mexico City, claiming victory for the United States. -
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo offered peace between the United States and Mexico. Also included in the treaty was that Mexico would cede 55% of its land to the U.S. (the land originally desired by the United States) and that the United States would pay Mexico $15 million for war damages.
