Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
The Mexican American War (1846-1848) Causes - Coggle Diagram
The Mexican American War (1846-1848) Causes
Polk Urges War
Hostilities with Mexico flared again When US Annexed Texas in 1845.
Causes for Polk’s Military Action
Issues over border of Mexico and Texas
Mexican President refused to meet with Polk’s emissary in regard to purchasing California and New Mexico and Texas border.
Polk has a vision of continental US from Atlantic to Pacific and to retire presidency after first term
Domestic Dispute over Slavery
as a Cause
Southerners wanted war to gain more land to:
Expand Slavery
Gain more slave states in congress
North wanted Congress to pass Wilmot Provision
Proposed Amendment to military appropriations Bill of 1846 that prohibited slavery in lands that might be gained from Mexico
Southerners felt provision was attack on slavery, pushed for war even more.
The War Begins and Lincoln Questions
US actions Pushed Mexico towards war
General Taylor positioned troops at Rio Grande
American Military also in California, a territorial violation
Mexico sent troops across Rio Grande, skirmish left 11 US troops dead.
Polk sent message to Congress declaring that "American blood [spilled on] upon American soil." Wanted war declared.
Lincoln questioned the truthfulness of this cause for war.
New Mexico
New Mexico fell to US troops without a shot fired
New Mexico troops joined forces in CA to quickly win CA
US citizens already had declared independence from Mexico and named themselves the BEAR FLAG REPUBLIC
Military victories came one after another for the US for the US in Mexico under Winfield Scott
Polk's "Ally"
Polk schemed with Santa Anna, who was living in exile in cuba
Scheme: Polk help Santa Anna come back to power, Santa Anna would end war and establish border in US' favor
Santa Anna comes to power in Mexico, immediately takes command of Army, ordering attack on Taylor's forces
But US forces more rested than Mexican troops