The State of Texas - 1845

December 15, 1845

• James Pinckney Henderson – first governor of Texas

• Thomas J. Rusk and Sam Houston – first two U.S. Senators of Texas

Treaty of Velasco

• Mexico refused to honor the treaty that Santa Anna had signed.

• His life was in danger so they claimed it was not valid

• They still considered Texas Mexican territory• They saw U.S. intervention as an attempt to

take Mexican territory• They warned that the annexation of Texas could

mean war

Border disputes

• U.S. – Rio Grande River• Mexico – Nueces River• U.S. wanted Manifest Destiny• This was the belief that they could maintain

and own all of the land between Texas and the Pacific Ocean.

John Slidell

• Slidell was sent by the president to make a deal with Mexico

• U.S. citizens had claims against Mexico for damage to their property.

• Slidell offered to waive those claims for Texas and all of the land west of Texas.

• Mexico was offended that the U.S. would expect them to give all of their land for $$$.

Mexican War – 1846-1848

• President Polk sends Zachary Taylor and troops to the Nueces River and then later further south to the Rio Grande.

• Fighting broke out just north of the Rio Grande in 1846.

• After the battle of Palo Alto, the U.S. declared war on May 13, 1846.

• General Taylor marched his army into Mexico and won at the battles of Buena Vista and Monterrey.

Winfield Scott

• The Commander, Winfield Scott took his men across the Gulf of Mexico into Veracruz from the east and then into Mexico City (a much easier route).

• Scott’s men faced heavy opposition in trying to take Mexico City at a fort known as Chapultepec.

• Many Texas Rangers fought with the Americans in the Mexican War.

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo - 1848

• 1. War was over• 2. Texas belonged to the U.S.• 3. They gave all land west of Texas – Mexican

Cession• 4. U.S. paid Mexico $15,000,000• 5. U.S. waived all land claims and agreed to

respect the rights of Spanish speaking people