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Stephen Austin establishes a colony in Texas
The return of Colonel Austin infused new life into the colony. The news of the confirmation of his grant, of the overthrow of Iturbide, and of the prospect of a permanent republican form of government, caused the colonists to believe that they had homes—free homes—for themselves and their children -
Mexico places restrictions on American immigration
This put U.S. immigration restrictions to a high level. U.S. citizens were not able to cross the boarder into Mexico under their new law. -
Stephen Austin meets with Mexican President Santa Anna
Austin was the only one of the commissioners that went to Mexico. He set out shortly after the adjournment of the convention, and reached the capitol in time to see it the scene of confusion and intrigue. As his stay in Mexico was lengthy, and greatly prolonged by political events, it will be proper to refer to them in this place. -
Battle of the Alamo
was a pivotal event in the Texas Revolution. Following a 13-day siege, Mexican troops under President General Antonio López de Santa Anna launched an assault on the Alamo Mission near San Antonio de Béxar. -
Battle of San Jacinto
Was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. Led by General Sam Houston, the Texian Army engaged and defeated General Antonio López de Santa Anna's Mexican forces in a fight that lasted just eighteen minutes. -
Treaty of Velasco grants Texas Independence
Were two documents signed at Velasco, Texas, on May 14, 1836, between Antonio López de Santa Anna of Mexico and the Republic of Texas, in the aftermath of the Battle of San Jacinto (April 21, 1836). The signatories were Interim President David G. Burnet for Texas and General Santa Anna for Mexico. -
U.S. Annexes Texas
The U.S. thus inherited Texas's border dispute with Mexico; this quickly led to the Mexican-American War, during which the U.S. captured additional territory, Extending the nation's borders all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Texas claimed the eastern part of this new territory, comprising parts of present-day Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Texas, Wyoming and Oklahoma. -
General Taylor marches troops across Rio Grande
With the outbreak of hostilities at Rancho de Carricitos, both the U.S. and Mexican armies accepted that war had commenced and neither waited for a formal declaration. Mexican General Arista began shuttling troops across the Rio Grande to besiege the isolated U.S. post, Fort Texas. -
Slidell's Rejection
General Santa Anna of Mexico seized power in the early days of the war and mounted a fight that lasted almost two years. But by the end of 1847, General Zachary Taylor had become a national hero in the United States for winning two victories at the Rio Grande and mounting a successful advance into northeastern Mexico, where he took Monterrey and routed Santa Anna's army at the battle of Buena Vista. -
U.S. declares war on Mexico
American forces invaded New Mexico, the California Republic, and parts of what is currently northern Mexico; meanwhile, the American Navy conducted a blockade, and took control of several garrisons on the Pacific coast of Alta California, but also further south in Baja California. Another American army captured Mexico City, and forced Mexico to agree to the cession of its northern territories to the U.S. -
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends war with Mexico
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is the peace treaty, largely dictated by the United States to the interim government of a militarily occupied Mexico City, that ended the Mexican-American War (1846 – 48) on February 2, 1848. With the defeat of its army and the fall of the capital, Mexico surrendered to the United States and entered into negotiations to end the war. -
Gold discovered at Sutter's Mill, California
Sutter's Mill was a sawmill owned by 19th century pioneer John Sutter in partnership with James W. Marshall. It was located in Coloma, California, at the bank of the South Fork American River. Sutter's Mill is most famous for its association with the California Gold Rush. -
Zachary Taylor elected president
Zachary Taylor (November 24, 1784 – July 9, 1850)was the 12th President of the United States (1849–1850) and an American military leader. Initially uninterested in politics, Taylor nonetheless ran as a Whig in the 1848 presidential election, defeating Lewis Cass. -
California applies for statehood
After the Missouri Compromise in 1820, the battle over the issue of slavery in the emerging western territories was largely settled, as equal number of slave and non-slave states were added to the union. However, the issue was re-energized on February 2nd 1848, when Mexico ceded the territories of California and New Mexico to the United States. -
Gasden Purchase
region of present-day southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico that was purchased by the United States in a treaty signed by James Gadsden, the American ambassador to Mexico at the time, on December 30, 1853. It was then ratified, with changes, by the U.S. Senate on April 25, 1854 and signed by President Franklin Pierce, with final approval action taken by Mexico on June 8, 1854.
