-
Mexico independence
The mexicans won their independence in a war against spain in 1821 -
Period: to
Mexican-American War
-
Texas Breaks off from Mexico
Texas broke off from texas with aid from the United States, and declared itself a "Lone Star Republic. In 1845 it was made a state by the U.S. Congress. -
James Polk orders Americans into Mexican Territory
James polk is the new president, and orders troops to the Rio Grande, which everyone knows is a challenge to the Mexicans. -
Manifest Destiny
In the summer of 1845, John O' Sullivan, editor of the Democratic Review, used the phrase that became famous, saying it was "Our Manifest Destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions." -
Arrive in Mexico territory
Taylor's Army arrived in Rio Grande and set up fort in the abandoned village, and set up camp with his cannons facing the city of Matamoros, which was across the river. The mexicans had fled there when they saw the Americans coming. -
The incident that started it all
It started when Gen. Taylor's quartermaster Colonel Cross disapeared while riding up the Rio Grande. His body was found eleven days later, his skull smashed. It was assumed that he had been killed by mexican guerillas, while crossing the river. -
James Polk:WAR!
On may 9, James Polk suggested a declaration of war, before the attack of Colonel Cross. He wrote in his diary, "I stated... that up to this time, as we knew, we had heard of no open act of agression by the mexican army, but that danger was imminent that such acts would be comitted." After the report on Colonel Cross, Everyone scrambled to vote for the war. -
Henry David Thoreau
The war had barely begun, when a writer Henry David Thoreau refused to pay his massachusetts poll tax, denouncing the Mexican war. He was put in jail and spent one night there. Two years later, he gave a lecture, "Resistance to Civil Government," which was then printed asan essay, "Civil Disobedience" -
Los Angeles Revolt
Los Angeles revolted, and forced the American Garrison there to surrender. The U.S. didn't retake Los Angeles until january, after a bloody battle -
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was not in congress when the war began, but after his election, He challenged Polk to specify where "American blood was shed on american soil" As Polk had said. -
Battle of rio grande
The mexican army of 5,000, under General Arista faced General Taylor's army of 3,000. They fought at the Rio grande, facing the city of Matamoros. When the battle was over, 500 mexicans were dead or wounded, and 50 americans casualties.. how could the mexicans be so bad if they had more dead and dying? This logic was widely ignored. -
U.S. Army=Unruly
As The army moved across Mexico, Drunken army officers pillaged mexican villages, and raped the local women. -
Fight for california
Sometime during this timespan, there was an entirely seperate war for california, which ended up calling itself the "Bear Flag Republic" Indians lived there, and a naval officer went to speak with them, basically saying, "We are your new rulers. If you obey us, great. If you don't, we'll kill you. Alter your habits, don't practice your religion." -
Deserters
On the night of aug. 15 1847, Volunteer regiments from Virginia, Mississippi, and North Carolina rebelled in Northern Mexico against Col. Robert Treat Paine. Paine killed a mutineer, but two of his lieutenants refused to help him quell the mutiny. The rebels were... expelled from the army in an attempt to keep peace. in March 1847, the army reported more than 1000 deserters. All together there were 9,207 deserters. -
The battle for mexico city
In the final battle for Mexico City, Anglo-American troops took the height of (climbed) Chapultepec and entered the city of 200,000 people. An american infantry lieutenant wrote about what happened after an officer named walker was killed in battle, "General lane told us to "Avenge the death of Walker. Liquor shops were broken open, Army men raped women, Shot mexican men, Churches, houses, and stores were ransacked... It made me ashamed of my country for the first time." -
Frederick Douglas
Frederick douglas wrote in his newspaper, The NORTH STAR,
"The present disgraceful, cruel, and iniquitous war with our sister republic. Mexico seems a doomed victim to Anglo Saxon cupidity and love of dominion." -
Treaty!
The treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo took half of the mexican's land. The texas boundary was set at Rio Grande, and New Mexico and California were ceded. The united states paid Mexico 15 million$. -
March into mexico city
An american officer described the U.S. march into Mexico City as, "Our march into the city... was extremely warlike, With drawn sabers, and daggers in every look. ... As the American Flag was raised, and the cannon boomed its glorious national salute from the hill, the pent-up emotion of many of the women could be suppressed no longer... as the wail of grief arose above the din of our horses' tread, and reached our ears from the depth of gloomy-looking buildings on every hand." -
Mexicans Rebel!
Mexicans in Taos, New Mexico, rebelled against American Rule. The revolt was put down and arrests were made. But many of the rebels fled and carried on sporadic attacks, killing a number of Americans, Then hiding in the mountains. The American army pursued, and in a final desperate battle, in which 600 to 700 rebels were engaged, 150 were killed, and the rebellion was ended.
