Mexican American War

Notes:

1821- Stehpen Austin lead 300 settlers to present day Texas from present day Missouri.

1830- By this thime there were more english speaking Americans in Texas then Mexicans.

1824- They demanded the rights of the Mexican constitution.

December 1835- Some of Texas rebels agianst San Antonio.

1836- Santa Anna and his army marched towards Texas with more than 3,000 men. Texas didn't want to fight but because they were so mad they did. This was called the Alamo.

March 1st, 1845- President John Taylor signs a Congressional resolution to take over
Texas.

March 4th, 1845- In President John Taylor's inagurational speech he talks about making America bigger in a peaceful way.

March 31, 1845- Ambassador Juan Almonte of the U.S. responds to the annexation of Texas and goes to Texas.

June 16, 1845- The Texas congregation says its ok for the U.S. to take Texas.

July, 1845- Polk sends orders to General Zachery Taylor telling him to organize an army is Corpus Christi and to get ready to take over the Gulf of Mexico.

November, 1845- Polk sends John Slidell on a mission to go to Mexico and convince President Herrera to sell California and New Mexico. But once the mission lost its secrecy the Mexican press claims that President Herrera is a traitor for selling their northern territories. President Herrera didn't want his public to dislike him so he refused to meet with John Sidell.

December, 1845- In Polks annual address to congress he brings up the idea that the U.S. may have to go to war with Mexico.

March,1846- John Sidell leaves Mexico and the U.S. at the brink of war while Taylor leads his army to the disputed territory which Mexico and the U.S. both want.

April, 1846- General Mariano Arista arrives at Matamoris and surrounds a U.S. scouting troop on the other side of the Rio Grande and several are killed.

May, 1846- Polk asks congress to declare war on Mexico. Congress approves $10 million and 50,000 volunteers for the war efforts. Polk hopes that this will solve the disputed territory and also that California and New Mexico will be sold.

May 8-9, 1846- The battles begin and one of the first to die is Major Samuel Ringgold. Taylor's army also wins both of the battles, driving the Mexicans back over the Rio Grande.

June, 1846- New Mexico has come increasingly popular. Stephen W. Kearny is bringing troops to occupy New Mexico and then move into California. California had also been declared as an independent republic.

August, 1846- Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna returns to Mexico from exile and now leads Mexican troops once again.

September 20-24, 1846- the Battle of Mottery begins as part of Taylor's plan to cut off Northern Mexico.

December 1846- Santa Anna is officially elected as Mexico's president.

January, 1847- General Winifield Scott takes command of the majority of Taylor's troops preparing to attack Veracruz. While Santa Anna leads troops north to meet Santa Anna in Saltillo.

February, 1847- The U.S. still continues it massive effort to recruit more citizens.

February 22-23, 1847- The battle of Buena Vista Begins. Although Taylor's army was outnumbered 15,000 to 5,000 they still won, driving the Mexicans south.

April 19-20, 1847- The battle of Cerro Gordo begins and Scott's army is outnumbered once again 12,000 to 8,500 they still win with a clear pathway to Mexico City.

May-July, 1847- Scoot occupies Peubla while diplomat Nicholas Trist joins him (sent by Polk) to try to declare peace with Mexico.

September 12-13, 1847- The battle of Mexico City begins. After 14 hours of the Americans shelling the castle and the Mexicans trying to protect it while begging for reinforcements the Mexicans Finlay surrender. There were a lot of Mexicans who died, later there will be a memorial site for all the l0st who fought for Mexico.

October, 1847- Santa Anna is no longer a commander and resigns as president and goes to Jamaica for exile.

January, 1848- James Marshall discovers gold at Sutters Mill in California causing a huge population change in California. As the gold rush continued people grew rich very fast. Also during this time Trist and the Mexicans negotiate that the U.S. will pay $15 million for New Mexico, California and they will cut off the Mexican border at the Rio Grande and Mexican citizens that are no longer part of Mexico will become American citizens. They also signed a Peace treaty.

March 10, 1848- The treaty is accepted by U.S. senate.

March 25, 1848- The treaty is accepted by Mexican Congress.

-- how the war started and ended are in italics.
--key battles are bolded.