THE HISPANIC SOUTHWEST

MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE After 10+ years of fighting Mexico won

independence from Spain However, in the following years Mexico

experienced political chaos

MAP OF NORTH AMERICA AFTER MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE

NORTHERN TERRITORIES The far Northern territories of

California, New Mexico, and Texas were part of Mexico however, these areas experienced a great deal of political independence…..why?....

THINKING CRITICALLY Explore the map on the next page

Note the location of New Mexico, California, and Texas

Locate the capital Mexico city

Why did these areas of Texas, New Mexico, and California experience a lot of political independence at this time from Mexico?

ANSWER These areas were located about 1,000

miles from Mexico City making them geographically removed from the government in Mexico

THE NORTHERN TERRITORIES (NM, CA, TX)

Not very populated Native Americans and Hispanic settlers

Mexican Frontier as it was called was threatened in several ways: Settlements in NM and Texas faced Apache,

Comanche, and other Native American attacks Westward expansion from the U.S.A. Southward expansion from Russians (1780’s

Russia began Colonizing Alaska)

Russian threat to Mexico’s Northern Territories of southward expansion

U.S. threat of westward expansion

SPANISH MISSIONS The Spanish expanded the territory of

New Spain by establishing missions on the northern frontier

Purpose of these state-financed (?) missions was to spread Christianity and Spanish culture to Native Americans

MISSION’S CONTROL Missions controlled a lot of land These lands contained:

Grazed cattle Sheep Horses

Native Americans tended to these animals and did other work at the missions “under conditions of near slavery”

INFOGRAPHIC PAGE 261

MISSION’S DECLINE By 1800’s mission system was in decline

Little financial support during the struggle for independence

Many Mexicans believed that state –sponsored religious institutions was inappropriate for a republic

1834-Mexico’s government secularized –transferred power from religious to civil (government)control

Land then went to private owners

The goal of the reformers was to divide mission lands up and give them to Native Americans

However, most lands ended up in the hands of cattle ranchers who relied on Native Americans for labor

FORTS Frontier presidios (forts) became weak

due to labor shortages & reduced funding

This left frontier settlers vulnerable to attack

CALIFORNIA Secularization of the missions- freed up

land for cattle ranching, which became the main money maker

Rancheros or ranchers- owned a lot of land These white Spanish “Dons” and their

families made up 10% of California’s population

However, they controlled California society

MIDDLE CLASS Beneath these Elites was a class of

mestizos Mestizo- persons of mixed European

and Native American ancestry Some were “vaqueros” (cowboys) Many were skilled craftspeople

THE NATIVE AMERICANS At the bottom of society Suffered high mortality rates under the

Spanish rule Often exploited by the new class of

rancheros Many escaped to live on the edges of

California’s frontier to live with independent Native Americans

MEN’S ROLE In California men played a powerful role

in the family Only men could vote or hold elective

office

WOMEN’S ROLE Women, especially upper-class women

had some rights and privileges as well Unlike American women of the era,

Hispanic women retained control over their own property after marriage and could seek legal redress from the courts

NEW MEXICO New Mexico included present day

Arizona Did not change much immediately after

Mexico’s independence Remained rural Sheep ranching thrived in dry climate

NEW MEXICO ATTACKED 1820’s Navajo and Apache launched a series

of attacks on New Mexico The Mexican Government was unable to

provide protection This continued a growing dissatisfaction with

the national government 1837, Pueblo people and hispanic settlers

North of Santa Fe rebelled Killed the unpopular territorial governor 16 other government officials killed

AMERICAN INFLUENCE After Mexican independence American

influence in these territories increased Immigration increased Trade increased

Traders from U.S., Russia and other countries arrived in California ports to exchange manufactured goods for sea otter skins and hides and tallow (?) derived from cattle

TALLOW- A HARD FATTY SUBSTANCE MADE FROM RENDERED ANIMAL FAT, USED IN MAKING CANDLES AND SOAP

SETTLERS Governor of CA Juan Bautista Alvarado

- hoping to attract settlers granted 50,000 acres to John Sutter (A German Immigrant)

Sutter built a trading post and cattle ranch Sutter’s Fort

More settlers arrived- differences between CA and Mexico increased

Tension between Mexican National government and territorial governments

Still only 700 Americans at this time (1845)

SANTA FE TRAIL William Becknell opened this trail

Connected Independence , Missouri to Santa FeAmerican Manufactured goods in exchange silver, mules, and furs

TEXAS Buffer zone between Mexico and the

U.S. Texas Sparsely (lightly) populated Settlers faced recurring raids from

Comanche and Apache Native Americans

Most of the 2,500 Spanish speaking Tejanos in towns like San Antonio and Goliad

Americans began to flood the territory

REVOLT Decision by Mexican government to

allow Americans to settle their ultimately led to revolt against Mexican rule

Independence for Texas New Mexico and California remained

Mexican territory for 25 years Texas where Americans soon

outnumbered Tejanos broke away after 15 years

INDEPENDENCE FOR TEXAS Unable to persuade its own citizens to settle their Mexico continued policy of letting foreigners

settle there 1823-1825 Mexico passed three colonization laws

–offered cheap land to anyone who came to Texas Last law gave a 10 year tax exemption

but required foreigners to become Mexican citizens, abide by Mexican law, and convert to Roman Catholicism

EMPRESARIOS & SETTLERS Empresarios- “agents” &“contractors” National Colonization Act-Mexico gave

26 empresarios large amounts of Texas land In exchange emprasarios promised to fill

the land with a certain number of settlers Empresarios governed these colonies they

established

STEPHEN AUSTIN Most successful empresario Founded the town Washington-on-the-

Brazos By mid1830’s persuaded 1,500 American

families to immigrate

AMERICANIZING TEXAS Americans accepted Mexican

citizenship at first However, the Mexican government

thought American citizens would adopt Mexican customs and see Mexico as their country –but few did

Many Mexicans distrusted the settlers because of this

BENJAMIN EDWARDS Brother of empresario Haden Edwards

led a rebellion against Mexican authority Disputed regional control over who

controlled the region Mexico or the empresarios

Edwards declared that the settlements of Americans in Texas now constituted the independent nation of Fredonia

The rebellion dispersed when Mexican troops threatened however

MEXICO’S REACTION Most settlers ignored Edward’s call for

rebellion However, Mexican government feared

it signaled an American plot to acquire Texas Closed their borders to further American

immigration and banned importing slave labor

Also taxed goods on imports from foreign countries

Hoping to discourage trade with the U.S.

SETTLER’S REACTION Furious! Mexican government making rules for

them Making goods more expensive Saw no need to obey a government they

hardly considered their own

TEXAS GOES TO WAR Tensions existing- settlers met at 2 conventions

in town of San Felipe 1832 & 1833 At first convention settlers chose Stephen

Austin convention’s president 1st convention asked Mexico to reopen its

borders to American immigrants and loosen taxes on imports

2nd convention recommended separating Texas from Coahuila and creating a new Mexican state

CAUSES OF WAR Convention sent Stephen Austin to

negotiate with the Mexican Government Visited Mexican president Antonio Lopez de

Santa Anna got him to agree to some demands

While returning home he was arrested Taken to Mexico city jailed for treason

President Santa Anna denounced Mexico’s constitution and declared himself Dictator

Austin urged Texans to organize army and they did

EARLY BATTLES Mexican army serious problems

Political instability in Mexico denied the army sound leadership, training and support

Texan army first victory –Mexican force demanded surrender but had no authority to attack so they retreated rebels (Texans) followed and attacked (Decmeber 1835)

March 2, 1836 Texas declared independence drafted a new constitution derived from U.S. and protected slavery

THE ALAMO Former governor of Tennessee Sam Houston

became Texans military leader Meantime Santa Anna organized 6,000 men to

crush rebels When Santa Anna’s forced got to San Antonio

they found 180+ Texas rebels holed up in an abandoned Catholic mission called the “Alamo” Under command of William B. Travis small force

wanted to delay Santa Anna’s army so Houston’s army could prepare

Called for reinforcements

SAM HOUSTON

WILLIAM B. TRAVIS

ALAMO Call went largely unanswered- only 32 settlers

came from Gonzales Texans held off Santa Anna’s men for 13 days This was when Texas government official

declared independence (March 6, 1836) When Santa Anna’s men stormed the Alamo

they still fought them off for 6 hours killing 600 of Anna’s men before being overrun

Defenders of the Alamo bought Houston’s men nearly 2 weeks

GOLIAD

GOLIAD 2 weeks after the Alamo Texan troops led by James W. Fannin Surrendered- hoping the Mexicans would disarm

them and expel them from Texas Fannin appealed to Santa Anna for clemency (leniency) Santa Anna demanded execution Firing squad executed 300 men

The losses at Alamo and Goliad devastated Texans but also united them in support of their new country

THE BATTLE OF SAN JACINTO Texan army in disarray

Sam Houston needed more time to recruit new members

Rather fight he chose to retreat to buy more time

Waited for Santa Anna to make a mistake Mistake occurred April 21 when both armies

were encamped by the San Jacinto River near present day Houston (named for Sam Houston)

SANTA ANNA’S MISTAKE No longer saw the Texas army as a

threat So he let his men sleep in the afternoon Confident the Texans would wait until the

next day to attack Texans were hungry for revenge Soldiers convinced the officers Snuck up a hill and crept up on Santa

Anna’s sleeping soldiers

The surprise attack threw Santa Anna’s men into a panic

Battle of San Jacinto lasted 20 minutes altough killing went on for hours

The troops shouted “Remember the Alamo” and “Remember Goliad”

Attacked with knives, guns, and clubs Hundreds killed 700 taken prisoner Texans only suffered 9 killed and 34 wounded

Among those captured was Santa Anna Houston forced Santa Anna to order his

men out of the country and sign a treaty recognizing the independence of Texas

The Mexican congress refused to accept the treaty but did not launch another military campaign

Texas Won

THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS September 1836 newly independent

republic held first elections- Sam Houston was elected president Also voted 3,277 to 91 in favor of

annexation-becoming part of the United States

Many Northern Congressmen opposed admitting Texas as a slave state

SAM HOUSTON

JACKSON’S REACTION

JACKSON’S REACTION Did not want to increase tensions

between the North and South Nor risk a costly war with Mexico (who

still claimed ownership of Texas) Jackson made no moves toward

annexation Last day in office he signed a document

recognizing Texas as an independent nation

SECTION 4 THE WAR WITH MEXICO 1844-control of Oregon and annexation of Texas

had become major political issues Territorial disputes between the U.S. and Mexico

dated back to 1803 U.S. claimed Texas as part of Louisiana Purchase 1819- U.S. took back the claim in the Adams-

Onis Treaty of 1819 The idea of manifest destiny and of acquiring

some Mexican territories had strong popular support

JOHN TYLER Tyler wanted to bring Texas into the

union Anti-slavery leaders were against this

They knew most Texans favored slavery This would upset the balance between free

and slave states

TEXAS AND OREGON ENTER THE UNION Tyler-Spearheaded a campaign for

annexation of Texas Brought issue before the Senate but made

the crucial mistake of including letters written by John C. Calhoun (Secretary of State) that fiercely defended slavery Anti-slavery Northerners called annexation of

Texas a pro-slavery plot 35-16 Senate voted against annexation

ELECTION OF 1844 Front runners (nomination)- Whig

Senator Henry Clay and former Democratic President Martin Van Buren

Van Buren’s indecision cost him the nomination

Democrats instead chose James K. Polk

ELECTION 1844 FRONTRUNNERS

JAMES POLK

JAMES K. POLK Polk promised to annex Texas and

Oregon territory in the Northwest Also vowed to buy California from Mexico

This appealed to both North and South Expanded the country Maintained delicate balance between free

and slave states

HENRY CLAY Backpedaled

Now supported annexation of Texas as long as conflict was avoided with Mexico

Angered anti-slavery members of his Whig Party.

Many Whigs supported the liberty party who believed in abolition

Whig votes split- causing Polk to win

THE OREGON QUESTION Polk took a strong stance on this issue Despite British claims to the region, Polk and

Democrats said that U.S. had “a clear and unquestionable” right to all Oregon territory

June 1846- U.S. and Britain were involved with separate conflicts They negotiated the Oregon Treaty

U.S. received all of Oregon south of 49 degrees north latitude and west of the Rocky Mountains except for the Southern tip of Vancouver Island

ANNEXATION OF TEXAS Texas annexed in 1845 (angered Mexico) Tensions worsened when the two sides

argued over the southwestern border of Texas Polk’s intentions with California angered

Mexico John Slidell was sent as a special envoy to

Mexico City to try to purchase California Mexico’s new president, Jose Joaquin Herrera

refused to meet him

JOSE JOAQUIN HERRERA

THE WAR WITH MEXICO Herrera’s snub ended any realistic chance

of a diplomatic solution Polk ordered troops led by General

Zachary Taylor across the Nueces River In Mexico’s view an invasion of it’s territory

Polk wanted Mexico to fire first shot to win support

Finally on May 9, 1846, Mexicans attacked Taylor’s men

Polk addressed Congress Declared the U.S. at war

Many Whigs opposed the war as yet another plot to extend slavery

May 13 Senate voted 40-2 House voted 174-14 in favor of war

Critics called it Mr. Polk’s War

3-pronged military strategy Taylor’s troops continued to move south

crossing the Rio Grande Another force to the northwest would

capture Santa Fe- important trading center and capital of New Mexico, then march west to take control of California with help of American Navy

U.S. forces would advance upon Mexico City

Ambitious plan- U.S. needed to expand its army

Congress allowed the president to call for 50,000 volunteers (73,000 enlisted)

Troops were undisciplined and unruly, less than ideal soldiers

THE FIGHTING BEGINS Taylor moved south defeated Mexican

forces at Matamoros and captured Monterrey

Meantime- Colonel Steven W. Kearney secured Santa Fe

Before war with Mexico- John C. Fremont led north Californian settlers in an uprising

Settlers had little trouble overcoming Mexican presence there

June 14, 1846 – California declared independent of Mexico Renamed Bear Flag Republic

Few weeks later the Bear Flag Republic came to an end- American Navel Forces arrived and took California for the U.S.

MEXICO CITY Polk decided to force a conclusion by

sending troops to Mexico City Polk saw General Zachary Taylor as a

potential threat to in the 1848 election So Polk eased him out of the war and

replaced him with General Winfield Scott

BLOODY TREK US troops moved south to Veracruz

won battle there and moved south toward Mexico City Fought bloody battles on the way US troops won a battle outside the gates of

Mexico City A group of city leaders finally surrendered

to General Winfield Scott unconditionally US forces formally occupied Mexico

THE PEACE TREATY Mexican leaders signed the Treaty of

Guadalupe Hidalgo Conditions:

US gained more than 500,000 square miles of territory

Rio Grande became official southern border of Texas

In exchange: US paid Mexico $15million and took over $3.25

million in debts Mexico owed to the United States citizens

CONCLUSION Oregon and former Mexican territories

under US control US dream of Manifest Destiny realized

American stretched from ocean to ocean However, the question of slavery would

lead the country into a bloody civil war The experience gained by Robert E. Lee

and Ulysses S. Grant would be used to lead Americans in battle against each other