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Following Battle of San Jacinto (April 1836), a captured Santa Anna trades Texas independence for his liberty 1838, President Sam Houston invites US to annex Texas Texans likes the idea (why?) Northerners are hesitant (why?) After James K. Polk is elected President, he quickly moves to annex (why?) How do you suppose Mexico reacts?

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Mexico experiencing some instability Polk sees great opportunity to expand not only Texas, but also New Mexico and California Polk sends representative to buy California and New Mexico, settle Texas border, but Mexican officials refuse to meet with him Polk then sends Gen. Zachary Taylor to blockade the Rio Grande

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Southerners Northerners Many support annexation/war Addition of slave-holding Texas adds pro-slavery seats in government Oppose upsetting balance of slave/non- slave states Feel South is trying to dominate the Union Both Sides see pending war as a debate on slavery in America

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American soldiers launch exploration into Mexico, Mexico has had enough skirmish with Z. Taylor near Rio Grande Congress recognizes war with Mexico by huge margins Stephen Kearney leads soldiers to New Mexico New Mexico joins U.S. without conflict Continues to Cali, joins forces with some American settlers and drive Mexican soldiers out of self-proclaimed Republic of California

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U.S. has many successes in Mexico itself Much better leadership (Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, Winfield Scott, Zachary Taylor, etc.) Victory! Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo Mexico gives up present-day CA, NV, NM, UT, AZ, CO, WY (basically entire SW of modern America) for $15 million Small piece of Arizona purchased in 1853 (Gadsden Purchase)

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Gold discovered in California People drop everything to pan for gold Migration to California increases from 400 in 1848 to 44,000 in 1850 So-called 49ers San Francisco becomes pandemonium of a city Much Diversity also comes to California Large influx of Chinese migrants Many free blacks seek/find fortune