In 1820 Americans were allowed to settle in Spanish
Texas after no one from Mexico wanted the land. The
Americans who settled there had a hard time adjusting to the Mexican laws and
were completely outraged when Mexico banned the use of slavery.
Tensions ran so high that Texas decided to declare
independence. However, Mexico would not accept the
declaration and sent in troops to settle the rebellion. Mexico could not win the war and Texas claimed themselves free of
Mexico in 1836. Texas then asked the United States to admit them as a Slave
State, but was denied because of the fact that Texas would off balance the free/slave
state numbers. The states finally admitted Texas in 1845.
Around the same time of the Texas Revolution there was something occurring in America known as Manifest Destiny.
Manifest Destiny is the name John L. O'Sullivan gave to the concept that America was destined to own land
from sea to sea. Unfortunately, the land America was "destined"
to have was occupied by Native Americans, Mexico, and Great Britain. America was able to make an
agreement with Great Britain that gave each country
half of Oregon. The section that Great Britain received is now part of Canada. Making a compromise with Mexico proved much more difficult.
The two countries were still arguing over Texas and its borders.
Mexico ambushed American troops
in Texas in 1846 and two days later
America declared war on Mexico. Not long after the war
began America took New Mexico and California. The amazing thing about
this was they captured New Mexico without firing a shot.
However, defeating Mexico was much more difficult.
Some major battles during the war include: Battle of Palo Alto, Battle of Vera
Cruz, Battle for Mexico City, and Battle of Cerro Gordo.
America won the war in 1848 when
both countries signed the Treaty of GuadeloupeHidalgo, which gave Northern
sections of Mexico to America and had America pay Mexico $15 million in
compensation.
Info: http://www.historycentral.com/mexican/index.html
and http://www.historyguy.com/Mexican-American_War.html
