Cause And Effect Of The Mexican-American War On Mexico

Mexican-American War It all started when Texas gained independence from Mexico in 1836. They fought the Mexican War of Independence against Santa Anna because he was a dictator. They felt that the time had come to break free of Mexican laws. They captured Santa Anna at the battle of San Jacinto and forced him to sign a treaty granting Texas independence. For 9 years Texas requested to join the United States. Washington however, did not want to take action because he was afraid of angering Mexico and increasing sectional conflict. However, in 1845 Texas was admitted in the Union by James Polk. Mexico threatened war but the French and British persuaded Mexico against it. Dispute started at the southern border of Texas. Both Texans and Mexicans
On May 8th 1846 General Taylor was moving to help Fort Texas when he was cut off by Mexican troops at Palo Alto under General Arista. In the battle Taylor defeated Arista. The battle continued the next day at Resaca de la Palma with Taylor’s men driving the Mexicans back across the Rio Grande. Reinforced Taylor pressed on into Mexico and captured the city of Monterrey. At the end of the battle Taylor offered the Mexicans a two month truce in exchange for the city. This move angered Polk and began to remove Taylor’s men. Taylor’s best victory was in February 1847 when his 4,500 men won a surprising victory over 15,000 Mexicans at the Battle of Buena Vista. In the mid-1846 General Kearny was sent west with 1,700 troops to capture Santa Fe and California. However, US naval forces lead by Commodore Stockton dropped on the coast of California. With the help of American settlers they quickly captured the towns along the coast. In the late 1846 they aided Kearny’s exhausted troops as they appeared from out of the desert and forced the final surrender of Mexican troops in California. On March 9, 1847 General Scott landed 10,000 men outside of Veracruz. After a brief blockade he captured the city on March 29. Moving inland his forces defeated a larger Mexican army at Cerro Gordo. As Scott’s army came closer to Mexico City they fought victorious battles at Contreras, Churubusco, and Molino de Rey. On September 13, 1847 Scott opened an attack on Mexico City capturing the gates of the city. After the victory of General Scott at Mexico City the fighting ended. In 1847 with the conflict still heated Secretary of State James Buchanan suggested that the President Polk send a representative to Mexico to help bring the war to an end. Polk agreed and chose Chief Clerk to the State Department Nicholas Trist and dispatched him south to join General Scott’s army near Veracruz. After Scott’s victory at Mexico City the Mexicans three