Chapter 10

1. Chapter 10 Section 2

2. Spain’s North American Empire • Spain was in control of what is now the southwestern United States, but its control was very weak. • To secure present day California from GB or Russia the Spanish began building a network of missions & presidios (forts) • These missions and presidios were to show power and used to convert Native Americans to Christianity – by force if necessary • They were also used as trade centers and used NAs as their source of labor • The NA population in California decreased due to the poor living conditions, limited medical care and smallpox • The settlement in New Mexico began to grow but the population lived close together due to nomadic NAs and the harsh landscape

3. Effects of Mexican Independence • Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821 • It started with demands of self-government and a few local uprisings that were crushed by the Spanish but the idea of independence stayed alive • After California, New Mexico and Texas gained their independence they were allowed to elect representatives to the new government of Mexico City

4. Trade with the US • The high quality and low prices of American goods nearly replaced NM’s trade with Mexico • Caravans of wagons traveled on the Santa Fe Trail, which linked Independence, MI to Santa Fe, NM • American fur traders and merchants from New England sailed around South America to reach the West to trade goods • The US had very strong economic ties to the Mexicans and it became even stronger after the Mexican gov’t loosened the rules affecting trade with American merchants

5. Texans Seek Independence • There was a high flow of Americans into the Mexican territory of Texas. Stephan Austin received permission from the Mexican gov’t to be the 1st American settlers into Texas • When Americans began to follow, Mexico began to adopt policies that favored immigration –cheap land, protection and a 4 year tax break • By 1830 the number of Americans living in eastern Texas doubled that of Mexicans • This led to laws prohibiting any more Americans settling there or the importation of slaves – this did not stop either • As numbers began to grow the Americans wanted more political control (slavery guaranteed under Mexican law)

6. Texans Seek Independence • The settlers were divided between working within the American system or fighting for Independence • The decision was easy after General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna declared himself dictator and stripped Texas of its right to self-government • American and Mexicans in the territory banded together and began to fight back under Sam Houston’s leadership

7. Texas Wins Independence • General Santa Anna led a group of troops to the Alamo, a walled fortress in San Antonio • The massively outnumbered army of Texans guarding the mission (around 200 Texans and 4,000 Mexicans) lasted 13 days until Santa Anna’s forces breached the wall and killed around 180 Texans • Later at another presidio the smaller Texans force surrendered as prisoners of war but were then killed at Santa Anna’s orders • These two battles outraged the Texans • During the Runaway Scrape Santa Anna split his forces to end the rebellion. Sam Houston’s men captured Santa Anna and forced him to sign a treaty recognizing the Republic of Texas. • The Texans created a constitution similar to the US, elected Sam Houston president and forbade Congress to interfere with slavery

8. Annexation of Texas • Migration into the western territories of the US surged in the 1830s & 1840s • This created the idea of manifest destiny, “obvious or undeniable fate”, that the US should spread liberty from the east to the west • After winning their independence from Mexico, Texans voted to be annexed or “join” the US to protect themselves from Mexico • Southerners and Democrats supported it because they wanted to gain another slave state. Northerners and Whigs opposed it because they feared the addition of a slave state would shift the power to the South

9. Annexation of Texas • Both the North & South feared that it would lead to war with Mexico • Mexican leader Santa Anna warned that an annexation would be “equivalent to declaring war on Mexico” • Despite the warning President John Tyler signed the treaty of annexation- the Whig controlled Senate vetoed the treaty • President James K. Polk won presidency and Congress approved the annexation.

10. War with Mexico • One month after Congress passed the annexation Mexico broke off diplomatic relations with the US • Even if war could be avoided there was still the dispute over the boundary of Texas. The US said the Rio Grande while Mexico said the Nueces River (farther north) • Polk wanted more than Texas- he sent an Ambassador to Mexico City in order to buy New Mexico and California for $30 million but the Mexican gov’t would not see him

11. War with Mexico • Determined to have his way Polk sent 3,000 troops to the disputed area of southern Texas. Led by General Zachary Taylor, the Americans set up camp near the Rio Grande • Mexican troops engaged Taylor’s forces in late April killing several Americans. This was all that President Polk needed. • He expressed outrage over “the loss of American blood on American soil” • Despite opposition, Congress declared war on Mexico beginning the Mexican War

12. War with Mexico • Before news of war with Mexico reached California, a groups of Americans settlers launched a surprise attack on the town on Sonoma • The settlers proclaimed a Republic of California and created a flag with a grizzly bear and a single star, so the uprising was called Bear Flag Revolt • Soon after US troops crossed into New Mexico, meeting little resistance, and occupied Santa Fe, NM • The US had control of NM and CA

13. War with Mexico • While the northern boarder was being taken by the US, General Zachary Taylor took the war into Mexico • After crossing the Rio Grande, Taylor won a series of battles leading to the Battle of Buena Vista • Taylor’s army faced off with 20,000 Mexican soldiers and won the hard fought battle. Santa Anna claimed a Mexican victory and returned to Mexico City • Santa Anna eventually abandoned NE Mexico to Taylor to protect his capital. After taking the route of Hernan Cortes the US took the Mexican capital and ending the war

14. War with Mexico • After defeat the Mexican gov’t agreed to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo1. Mexico gave up Texas and agreed to the boarder at the Rio Grande2. Mexico gave CA and NM to the US (2/5 of its territory)3. US paid Mexico $15 million4. US paid claims made by US citizens against Mexico ($3 million) • Five years later the US agreed to the Gadsden Purchase which was the acquisition of southern NM and AZ for $10 million • The Mexican War established the boundaries of the continental US, created bitter feelings and started the idea of manifest destiny

15. War with Mexico • The Mexican War also brought slavery back into the forefront of American politics • Politicians had not mad decisions about slavery within existing states, but now they had to confront the idea when they created new territories or states • There were fears over representation due to new states being created and the balance shifting • PA Democrat David Wilmot proposed that slavery would not be permitted in any of the territory acquired from Mexico. It was defeated • This proviso was attached to many bills but never became law. It showed the growing gap between the North and South over slavery

16. Gold Rush in California • In January 1848 a carpenter building a sawmill in CA discovered gold on John Sutter’s land • Mexican governor had granted Sutter the land to build a colony on • By August around 4,000 prospectors swarmed the property, destroying the colony and bankrupting Sutter • The California Gold Rush had begun and no event was more important in attracting settlers to the West • News spread in the eastern US and Americans were crazed over gold fever

17. Gold Rush in California • These people were called the “forty-niners” because they went to CA in 1849 • African Americans, slave and free, took part in the gold rush. The AAs worked as slaves in a work crew or by themselves • The gold rush brought immigrants from all over the word including Europe and Asia • The NAs in CA were forced to work in mines and women to work in households

18. Mining Frontier • There were gold strikes in Colorado, Nevada, Montana and even Canada • When word of gold strikes went out boom towns, towns that appeared overnight, were created, most of which were wild and violent • When the boom was over hundreds of houses and business became very bare and turned into ghost towns