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How the war began?

There is much debate about who started the war. After much research evidence points to US creating a situation to draw Mexico into war for US expansion.

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Mexico prior to War

In order to understand how Mexican American war began, one must first understand Mexico’s Independence. On Sept 16, 1810 Mexico fought for Independence. In 1821, Mexico became Independent from Spain. Mexico as a result was in dept, one tenth of the population died, much of its infrastructure was destroyed, and over 90% of its population was illiterate.

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Why Americans Came to Texas

By the 1830s thousands of Americans flooded in to Texas. Many sought a better life

and were ok with Mexico’s laws. As time went on, more Americans came to a point where they felt and honestly believed that Texas was theirs.

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Mexican government allowed EuroAmericans at first because they needed settlers to help drive off the aggressive Native Americans who continued to raid the towns. Mexico however grew increasingly alarmed at the amount of Euro-Americans entering Texas.

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Slavery in Texas

In 1824 US offered to buy Texas for $1 million. In the following years, US used a political campaign to forced Mexico selling Mexico. In 1829 Mexico made slavery illegal. Making slavery illegal angered Americans who used Slavery as in industry. Euro-Americans freed all their slaves in Texas and forced them to sign as lifelong indentured servants.

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Mexico became angered

In 1832 President of US, Andrew Jackson angered Mexican officials by offering to purchase Texas for $5 million. To make matters worse, illegal land grants in Texas were sold to Americans with out permission from Mexican officials. The lands were worthless as long as they belonged to Mexico and not US.

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Euro-Americans refused to pay customs (taxes) to Mexico for all their cotton sold. This Angered Mexican officials and led to Mexico tightening their grip on the region.

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Houston and Austin

By 1832, Euro-Americans increased their demands. Mexico continued to refuse and imprisoned those they felt were trying to sabotage their country. Euro-Americans led by Sam Houston and Stephen Fuller Austin began pushing for Independence and spread the word for thousands of other European-Americans to bring their rifles and join the movement.

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Population

In 1835 the population of Texas was made up by 5,000 Mexicans and an overwhelming 30,000 Euro-Americans.

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The War began

On Sept 19, 1835, Austin states, “War is our only recourse. There is no other remedy.”

Many Americans opposed the Texas Revolution and saw it as a disgraceful affair promoted by slaveholders and land speculators. Once it was realized there was no other way to convince Mexico to sell Texas, the war began.

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The Alamo

The Revolution first started with the Alamo. The Alamo was an unfinished mission which served as a fortification for these rebels who wanted Texas Independence. In total there were 187 rebels (filibusters) who had with them 21 canons, and many rifles with a range of 200 yards.

In February of 1836, 6000 Mexican Army man came to Texas under the leadership of Santana. They came and destroyed the occupants (rebels). The Rebels put up a good fight. The Mexican Army were mostly made up of Mayan descendants, who were forced to join the military and who were given musket rifles with a range of 70 yards. Most arrived sick, many did not even speak Spanish and were tired but still managed to do the job.

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The Result of the Alamo

After the Mexican victory at the Alamo with the deaths of all rebels, Mexican army had many skirmishes and battles throughout Texas.
US sent canons, rifles, and many Americans came to Mexico once they heard about the Alamo. Santana, the Mexican general was eventually overtaken by an Army led by Sam Houston. Santa Ana was forced to sign over Texas, hence, in the eyes of US, Texas was legally part of US.

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Texas annexation resulted in the Mexican American War

It was said that US admission of Texas on March 1, 1845, was a provocation for war. Texas became a State. Mexico was furious and refused to accept Texas as a US territory.

When US sent 4,000 troops into Texas to relinquish their newly founded state, it was attacked by Mexican forces who still saw Texas as theirs. US congress declared war on Mexico and authorized recruitment and supplying of 50,000 soldiers.

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The Mexican American War continued�

As American soldiers with thousands of volunteers entered Mexico South of Texas, they leveled the towns with artillery fire and killed anyone who opposed them. Women and children were also killed. Many Mexicans were also killed who were unarmed and not fighting.

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Mexican American War continued

United states conducted a violent and brutal war against Mexico. Cities were leveled as American Army entered. Anti Catholicism and racism made Americans ferocious towards the Mexican population.

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American Volunteers were horrible�

Over two thousand American Volunteers helped American Army fight Mexico. These men would sometimes arrive into the cities before the army. They would steal cattle, corn, and would get drunk, rape, and killed innocent inhabitants. It was said that Officers had no control or command of these volunteers and/or even their soldiers

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US naval ships would bomb cities near the coast. Once Cities near the coast would get bombed, American soldiers would take over the cities and work their way inland towards the Capital, Mexico City.

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California, New Mexico, and Arizona�

American forces gradually occupied California, New Mexico, and Arizona with minimal casualties. Many who helped US occupy these territories were Euro-American civilians already living there. As battles ensued, American forces took over capitals of each of these states. As this occurred US would put it their own governors and state workers along with their own police to keep order.

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What Americans thought

Victory of the United States over Mexico reinforced its people’s negative view of Mexico as weak. One of the most American advocates against the war was Abraham Lincoln. He said, God had nothing to do with the war-American greed did.

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Mexican Soldiers

Soldiers that were captured were executed, and those that cooperated with the Mexicans were hung. Mexicans were called greasers. Even Mexican women who were fighting along with Mexican soldiers met the same fait if caught.

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Mexican army

The poorly equipped and poorly led Mexican Army stood no chance against the expansion minded Euro-Americans

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President Polk’s Plan�

Mexicans would be cleared out of Texas
The US would occupy California and New Mexico
US forces would march to Mexico City to force the beaten government to make peace on his terms.

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The End of the War

Santa Ana who was considered President and general of the Mexican Army was once again defeated. He had recruited 20,000 men in the beginning of the war. They were known for not giving up. They fought bravely but it was not enough

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End of War Continued..

As American Soldiers destroyed the Mexican Army, all that stood on their way were a few teenagers, Los Nino Heroes. They too were killed.

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Casualties

US: 13,780
Mexico: 30,000

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Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

On February 2, 1848 the Mexican Congress ratified the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, with Mexico accepting the Rio Grande as the Texas border and ceding almost half of its territory (which incorporated the present-day states of California, New Mexico, Nevada, and parts of Colorado, Arizona, Utah, and even Oklahoma) to the United State in return for $15 million.

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Aftermath

Under the treaty, Mexicans had one year to decide whether to return to Mexico or remain in occupied Mexico. Most remained.

Many question the Treaty of Guadalupe. US president Polk actually did not agree with it. In fact many Americans actually wanted to incorporate all of Mexico.

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Aftermath continued

As time went on, many Mexicans who lived on the lands were gradually stripped of their rights for the land.
Mexico lost over half of their territory
Mexican lost a measure of dignity