Manifest Destiny And War Against Mexico Fit Flashcards
Mexican Independence, 1821
-War of Independence from Spain, 1810-1821
-1824: Mexico becomes a republic
-Northern Mexico includes the regions now known as Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, and California
-1829: Mexico abolishes slavery (including in Texas)
Mexican Independence was a war fought from 1810 to 1821 to gain independence from Spain. In 1824, Mexico became a republic after successfully securing its freedom. Northern Mexico, which included areas now known as Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, and California, was part of the newly formed nation. In 1829, Mexico abolished slavery throughout its territory, including in Texas, which was a significant change, as slavery was deeply entrenched in that region. However, this policy would later play a role in tensions with settlers in Texas, many of whom were slave owners.
Stephen F. Austin
-Land agent
-American settlers in Texas agreed to become Mexican citizens and abide by Mexican laws
-Catholicism & abolition
Stephen F. Austin (1793–1836) was an American empresario and a key figure in the early settlement of Texas. Known as the “Father of Texas,” Austin helped bring over 300 families to settle in Texas, which was then a part of Mexico. In the early 1820s, Austin was granted a land grant by the Mexican government to establish colonies in Texas, and he played a major role in the development of the region. However, as tensions grew between the settlers and the Mexican government, particularly over issues like slavery and governance, Austin became a leader in advocating for Texan rights. Eventually, his efforts contributed to the independence movement, and he played a crucial role in the events leading up to the Texas Revolution.
Abolition of Slavery in Mexico
-1829; Republic of Mexico abolishes slavery – Mexico eventually agrees to make an exception for Texas to placate Anglo slaveholders
-⅓ of the Texas population was made up of enslaved people.
-Mexico offered freedom and citizenship for people of African descent
Texas Rebellion, 1835-6
-Mexican President, Santa Anna (right) marches north with his army
-Americans defeated at the Alamo (1836)
-Protecting slavery was a major objective of the Texas rebels
The Texas Rebellion (1835-1836) was fueled by tensions between American settlers in Texas and the Mexican government, particularly over issues like autonomy and slavery. Mexican President Santa Anna marched north with his army to suppress the rebellion, and in 1836, Texan forces were defeated at the Siege of the Alamo, where notable figures like James Bowie, William B. Travis, and Davy Crockett were killed. Despite the loss, the battle became a rallying cry: “Remember the Alamo!” A major factor driving the rebellion was the desire to protect slavery, as many Texan settlers were slaveholders who feared Mexico’s abolition of slavery. In April 1836, Sam Houston led a successful surprise attack on Santa Anna’s forces at the Battle of San Jacinto, securing Texas’ independence and eventually leading to its annexation into the United States.
Sam Houston
-Texas rebels declare independence from Mexico
-Sam Houston leads an attack on Mexican army
-Santa Anna forced to sign a peace treaty with Houston
-Sam Houston became President of the “Lone Star Republic”
President James K. Polk
-President 1844-1848
-Slaveholder from Tennessee
-Admired Andrew Jackson
-Strong proponent of slavery and westward expansion
Manifest Destiny
Manifest Destiny was the 19th-century belief that the United States was destined by God to expand across the North American continent, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. This idea became a driving force behind American territorial expansion in the 1840s. Supporters of Manifest Destiny believed it was their nation’s mission to spread democracy, civilization, and the American way of life, often at the expense of Native American tribes, Mexican territories, and other non-European groups. The concept justified the annexation of Texas, the acquisition of Oregon, and the war with Mexico, which resulted in the U.S. gaining vast territories such as California, Arizona, and New Mexico through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. While it fueled westward expansion, Manifest Destiny also contributed to tensions over slavery, as new territories raised the question of whether they would permit slavery, intensifying divisions that would eventually lead to the Civil War.
Mexican-American War (1846-8)
-Polk send troops to US-Mexico border to provoke a skirmish
-Uses the skirmish to argue that “war exists”
-Annexation of NM & CA
Invasion of Mexico
-1847: US Army invades Mexico to force the surrender of Northern Mexico to US
-Santa Anna flees Mexico City
-Treaty 1848: U.S. pays $15 million for half of Mexico
-Mexico loses 55% of its pre-war territory
Henry David Thoreau & Civil Disobedience
-Opposed slavery and the war against Mexico
-Wrote about “Civil Disobedience”
—“Must the citizen resign his conscience… to the legislator?”
—Argued that citizens should protest by withholding taxes from a corrupt government
—Voting is not enough
Consequences of War
-Should new territory be annexed and incorporated into the US?
-Disputes erupt in US Congress over whether this this be slave or free territory
William Walker
-Wanted US to take over Central America
-Invaded Nicaragua; wanted to spread slavery
-Proclaimed himself President of Nicaragua
Making national boundaries “natural”
-National boundaries are made by governments (often in war)
-National myths make boundaries seem “natural” or “obvious”
-Idea of Manifest Destiny disguises the violence of conquest
