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Stephen Austin meets with Mexican President Santa Anna
Austin had traveled to Mexico City late in 1833 to present petitions for greater self-government for Texas to Mexican president Antonio López de Santa Anna. While Austin was on his way home, Santa Anna suspended the 1824 Mexican constitution and had Austin imprisoned for inciting revolution. -
Battle of the Alamo
Santa Anna stormed and destroyed the small American garrison in the Alamo. All 187 U.S. defenders died, including Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie. -
Battle of San Jacinto
Santa Anna executed 300 rebels at Goliad. Sam Houston and the Texans defeated Santa Anna's army and killed 630 men in 18 minutes. -
Treaty of Velasco grants Texas Independence
Texans let Santa Anna free after he signed the Treaty of Velasco. Texas became the "Republic of Texas" and Sam Houston became its president -
Slidell's Rejection
“Polk the Purposeful” sent a Spanish-speaking emissary, John Slidell, to Mexico to purchase California and New Mexico and to gain approval of the Rio Grande as the Texas border. When Slidell arrived, Mexican officials refused to receive him. -
General Taylor marches troops across Rio Grande
General Zachary Taylor marched the Rio Grande and blockaded the river. Mexicans viewed this action as a violation of their rights. -
U.S. annexes Texas
Sam Houston invited the United States to annex, or incorporate, the Texas republic into the United States. Texas became the 28th state in the Union. -
U.S. declares war on Mexico
The American invasion of Mexico lasted about a year and featured a pair of colorful generals, Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott. Taylor attacked and captured Monterrey, Mexico, in September 1846, but allowed the Mexican garrison to escape. Scott’s forces took advantage of Santa Anna’s failed strategy and captured Veracruz in March. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends war with Mexico
Mexico agreed to the Rio Grande border for Texas and ceded New Mexico and California to the United States. The United States agreed to pay $15 mil- lion for the Mexican cession, which included present-day California, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, most of Arizona, and parts of Colorado and Wyoming. The treaty guaran- teed Mexicans living in these territories freedom of reli- gion, protection of property, bilingual elections, and open borders. -
Gadsden Purchase
President Franklin Piercewould authorize his emissary James Gadsden to pay Mexicoan additional $10 million for another piece of territorysouth of the Gila River. Along with the settlement ofOregon and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the Gadsden Purchase established the current borders of the lower 48 states
