Manifest Destiny: The Annexation of New Mexico and California
The expansion of the United States into the territories of New Mexico and California, driven by the ideology of Manifest Destiny, involved a complex interplay of historical events including the Santa Fe Trail, Spanish missions in California, conflicts with Mexican settlers, and President Polk's strategy to acquire the lands through war. The chapter sheds light on the motivations, struggles, and consequences of this westward expansion during the 19th century.
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War with Mexico Chapter 12 Section 3
The New Mexico Territory The New Mexico territory was a vast region between Texas and California. It included all of present-day New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. Native Americans lived here for years until Spanish conquistadors began exploring in the late 1500s and made it part of Spain s colony of Mexico. Mexico won New Mexico when they received their independence from Spain. William Becknell was the first American trader to arrive in New Mexico and founded the Santa Fe Trail.
Continued The trail started near Independence, Missouri and crossed the prairies to the Arkansas River. It followed the river toward the Rockies before turning south into New Mexico. More traders followed Becknell and the trade with New Mexico increased. Many people started to settle there and saw New Mexico as part of Manifest Destiny of the United States.
Californias Spanish Culture Spanish explorers and missionaries settled in California in the 1700s. Captain Gaspar de Portola and Father Junipero Serra built a chain of missions that would extend from San Diego to Sonoma. These missions were used to convert Native Americans to Christianity. Native Americans also farmed the lands and worked at weaving and other crafts. After Mexico s independence, California became a state in the new Mexican nation.
Continued Mexican settlers bought available mission land and set up ranchos, which were worked by Native Americans. The Rancheros treated the Native Americans like slaves. Americans reached California in the 1840s and immediately wanted to add it to the Union. They argued that the nation would then be safely bordered by the Pacific Ocean rather than a foreign country. Shippers wanted to build ports so they could trade with East Asia.
War with Mexico Polk saw New Mexico and California as belonging to the United States but Mexico refused to sell the lands. Polk plotted to gain them through war and wanted to provoke Mexico to strike first so he could justify the war. Mexico and USA were strained especially over the Texas/Mexico border. Polk sent John Slidell to work out a deal with Mexico where he offered 30 million for NM and CA, but Mexico had to accept the border to be the Rio Grande and the USA would take over all Mexican debts to American citizens. Mexico immediately refused and showed they wanted Texas.
Continued Polk sent General Zachary Taylor to march his soldiers across the disputed borderland where he was attacked by Mexican soldiers. Taylor wrote Polk what he wanted to hear Hostilities may now be considered as commenced. Polk went to Congress and told them that Mexico invaded their territory and American blood had been shed on American soil. Declaration of war immediately went against Mexico.
Polks War Plan Polk s war plan had 3 parts. 1) American troops would drive Mexican forces out of the disputed border region in Texas and secure the border. 2) The United States would seize New Mexico and California. 3) American forces would take Mexico City, the capital of Mexico. Taylor accomplished the first goal and General Kearny captured Santa Fe, New Mexico without firing a single shot, then headed to California.
The Bear Flag Republic In June of 1846, a small group of Americans seized the town of Sonoma north of San Francisco and proclaimed the independent Republic of California. They called the new country the Bear Flag Republic. John C. Fremont declared that he would conquer the land with Kit Carson. This outraged the Californios. In July 1846, a United States Navy force captured ports of Monterey and San Francisco and Commodore John Sloat declared California annexed to the USA. They went on to capture San Diego and moved toward Los Angeles. Californios tried to rise up, but Kearny put down the revolt. California was fully controlled by the USA by January 1847.
The Capture of Mexico City President Polk assigned General Winfield Scott to capture Mexico City. In March 1847, Scott s army landed near Veracruz and they captured it after a 3-week siege. They then fought their way up 300 miles to Mexico City, and by mid-September 1847, Americans had taken Mexico City. The Mexican government surrendered and it would also be forced to surrender half of its territory.
The United States Expands The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed in February 1848. Mexico gave up Texas and agreed the Rio Grande would be the border. The Mexican Cession is where Mexico ceded California and New Mexico to the USA for $15 million. In 1853, the USA paid Mexico $10 million for the Gadsden Purchase, a strip of land along the southern edge of present-day Arizona and New Mexico. The United States has now reached its present size.
