Before the Mexican American war, Mexico had gained independence from the Spanish empire wining it independence from them and later on becoming a republic in 1824 (Wikipedia n.d.). Later on war broke out between the United States and Mexico in April 25, 1846 (Britannica n.d.). Furthermore, there was a dispute before the war in 1845, if Texas ended at the Nueces River which would belong to Mexico or the Rio Grande which would belong to the United States (Britannica n.d.). Furthermore, U.S. President James K. Polk sent John Slidell to Mexico City to negotiate, settle claims against Mexico and Purchase New Mexico and California (Britannica n.d.). Additionally, President Jose Jouquin Herrera new in advance of his intentions refused to see him (Britannica n.d.). When President James K. Polk found out about it, he ordered troops under the leader of General Zachary Taylor to stand guard on an area between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande in January 1846 (Britannica n.d.).
Furthermore, on May 9, 1846, U.S. President James K. Polk began to prepare a message to Congress about starting a war between United States and Mexico for refusing to pay and negotiate with them (Britannica n.d.). Furthermore, the evening he received war that Mexican Troops attacked General Zachary Taylor’s troop killing about a dozen of his men while crossing the Rio Grande on April 2, 1846 (Britannica n.d.). Afterward on May 11, United States President James K. Polk stated in his war message that was delivered to congress that, “The cup of beurance has been exhausted, even before Mexico passed the boundary of the United States, invaded our territory and shed American blood upon American Soil.” (History 2016) Furthermore, two days later on May 13, Congress declared war, despite opposition from some northern lawmakers (History 2016). Additionally, no official declaration of war ever came from Mexico. United States charged into Mexico without hesitation and war began (History 2016).
War broke out between United States and Mexico, former Mexican President and General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna contacted President James K. Polk (Britannica n.d.). Polk arranged a ship to take Santa Anna from Cuba which, he was exile to, to Mexico for the purpose of making a peace treaty (Britannica n.d.). Furthermore, Santa Anna lied to President James K. Polk and took charge of the Mexican forces (Britannica n.d.). Furthermore, United States sent its army who was stationed at the Rio Grande, under Taylor, to invade Mexico (Britannica n.d.). While that was happening, a second force, under Col. Stephen Kearny, was to invade New Mexico and California (Britannica n.d.). Furthermore, it was easier for Col. Stephen Kearny to invade both states because he encountered little resistance and the people there accepted United States occupation with no resentment (Britannica n.d.). Meanwhile, Taylor’s army fought several battles south of the Rio Grande, captured Mexico’s important city, and also defeated the Mexican Army at the battle of Buena Vista in February 1847 (Britannica n.d.). Besides, it wasn’t over and Taylor wasn’t enthusiastic about invading Mexico seeing this President Polk wasn’t happy about it which later on he would appoint another General to do the work (Britannica n.d.).
Later on, President Polk ordered General Winfield Scott to take an army to Veracruz (Britannica n.d.). General Winfield Scott was marked by an unbroken series of victories from Veracruz to Mexico City despite some Mexican resistance (Britannica n.d.). In additionally he entered Mexico on September 14, 1847, and that was the day Mexico fell and United States won (Britannica n.d.).
Furthermore, President James K. Polk assigned Nicholas Trist, Chief clerk in the State Department to accompany Scott’s forces and to make a peace treaty (Britannica n.d.). In addition, Santa Anna resigned and the United States had to wait until there was a New Mexican government that was capable of negotiations (Britannica n.d.). On February 2, 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed stating that New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, California, Texas, and western Colorado were for $15 million (Britannica n.d.).
In addition, people mostly died due to illness than people dying in battle (Britannica n.d.). There was poor sanitation which leads to people getting sick easily and volunteers were dying more than soldiers that were injured or sick (Britannica n.d.). Majority of the people has yellow fever while others have other diseases like measles, mumps, and smallpox (Britannica n.d.).
Overall the war lasted about 2 years starting on April 25, 1846 and ended on February 3, 1848 (Wikipedia n.d.). Mexico has lost about one third of its territory including California, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico to United States (Wikipedia n.d.). Furthermore, United Stated lost about 13, 000 people in war not just to fighting but also to diseases and sickness (Wikipedia n.d.). Mexico lost about 10,000 people in war (Wikipedia n.d.). Both countries lost a great amount of people in the war. Mexico suffered economically and emotionally with the great loss of money and people.
Originally published 15.10.2019