The Mexican-American War
Causes of War
- Annexation of Texas by the United States after Texas won independence from Mexico
- Border dispute between Texas and Mexico
-Mexico claimed the Nueces River as its northern border (more north than the Rio Grande)
- Thornton's Affair (firefight between ~2,000 Mexican soldiers and 70 US Dragoons)
|
Background The Mexican-American War lasted from 1846 to 1848. It was named after the two countries who fought in it (Mexico and the United States). The war started due to the annexation of Texas, the border dispute between Texas and Mexico, and Thornton's Affair (all listed above). This war was a clear American victory. After the war, Mexico and the US signed a treaty called the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Mexico then sold the United States a colossal amount of land, including practically all of current-day California, Nevada, and Utah, while also obtaining areas of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming (shown on the left in the gallery).
|
Major Leaders of the Mexican-American War
American Leaders
|
Mexican Leaders
|
Major Battles and Events of the Mexican-American War
The Battle of Palo Alto
The Battle of Palo Alto was one of the first major clashes in the Mexican-American War. The battle was fought on May 8, 1846. The United States had 2,400 men under the command of Brigadier General Zachary Taylor (a soon to be president), while Mexico had 3,400 men under the command of General Mariano Arista.
After the annexation of Texas by the United States, tensions rose between Mexico and the US. Tensions rose even more after the Thornton Affair. Now, Zachary Taylor established Fort Texas and its defenses in case of attack by Mexican general Mariano Arista. Arista then went to Fort Texas and fired upon it. However, Taylor managed to slip away from the firing and led most of his men to Point Isabel to gather more resources and relieve the firing at Fort Texas. However, Arista countered by intercepting Taylor while leaving some troops at the fort to continue the siege.
The two armies met at the crossroads of Palo Alto in the early afternoon. Both sides spread out, forming a long line of soldiers and artillery. Arista's men opened fire with guns; however, the shots were dampened due to poor power, meaning that Taylor's men could dodge these shots. Artillery was hard to move one placed, so Major Samuel Ringgold developed a tactic known as "flying artillery." This strategy utilized light, mobile, bronze guns that were easy to move. The artillerymen could deploy, fire several rounds, and shift positions. This tactic delivered the firepower needed to defeat the Mexican army.
While Ringgold's men were using this tactic, Taylor was not moving to attack. Arista then ordered Brigadier General Anastasio Torrejon to flank the Americans on the right. Unfamiliar with the physical land features, Torrejon and his men were blocked by the 5th US Infantry. The Mexican soldiers then were turned back by Ringgold's guns, as well as the 3rd US Infantry. After this, Arista then rotated his line from east-west to northeast-southwest. This movement was repeated by Zachary Taylor. After this, Taylor used his two 18-PDRs to create holes in the Mexican lines, and then directing forces to attack the Mexican left. Another flank was directed by Arista to turn the American left, which was countered by Ringgold's guns (during this, Ringgold was wounded by a 6-PDR shot). Around 7PM, the fighting began to diminish and by morning, the Mexicans had departed.
The United States suffered 15 killed, 43 wounded, and 2 missing soldiers after the battle. Mexico suffered anywhere from 250 to 400 casualties. At the end of the day, it was clear that the United States had won the battle. Taylor also intercepted Arista once more at Resaca de la Palma, where Taylor claimed another minor victory.
After the annexation of Texas by the United States, tensions rose between Mexico and the US. Tensions rose even more after the Thornton Affair. Now, Zachary Taylor established Fort Texas and its defenses in case of attack by Mexican general Mariano Arista. Arista then went to Fort Texas and fired upon it. However, Taylor managed to slip away from the firing and led most of his men to Point Isabel to gather more resources and relieve the firing at Fort Texas. However, Arista countered by intercepting Taylor while leaving some troops at the fort to continue the siege.
The two armies met at the crossroads of Palo Alto in the early afternoon. Both sides spread out, forming a long line of soldiers and artillery. Arista's men opened fire with guns; however, the shots were dampened due to poor power, meaning that Taylor's men could dodge these shots. Artillery was hard to move one placed, so Major Samuel Ringgold developed a tactic known as "flying artillery." This strategy utilized light, mobile, bronze guns that were easy to move. The artillerymen could deploy, fire several rounds, and shift positions. This tactic delivered the firepower needed to defeat the Mexican army.
While Ringgold's men were using this tactic, Taylor was not moving to attack. Arista then ordered Brigadier General Anastasio Torrejon to flank the Americans on the right. Unfamiliar with the physical land features, Torrejon and his men were blocked by the 5th US Infantry. The Mexican soldiers then were turned back by Ringgold's guns, as well as the 3rd US Infantry. After this, Arista then rotated his line from east-west to northeast-southwest. This movement was repeated by Zachary Taylor. After this, Taylor used his two 18-PDRs to create holes in the Mexican lines, and then directing forces to attack the Mexican left. Another flank was directed by Arista to turn the American left, which was countered by Ringgold's guns (during this, Ringgold was wounded by a 6-PDR shot). Around 7PM, the fighting began to diminish and by morning, the Mexicans had departed.
The United States suffered 15 killed, 43 wounded, and 2 missing soldiers after the battle. Mexico suffered anywhere from 250 to 400 casualties. At the end of the day, it was clear that the United States had won the battle. Taylor also intercepted Arista once more at Resaca de la Palma, where Taylor claimed another minor victory.
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/palo-alto.htm
LEQ: How did the Mexican-American War transform the nation?
The Mexican-American War transformed the nation because of the actions that occurred especially before and after the war. Before the war, the United States annexed Texas, originally part of Mexico before its revolution and independence in 1836. This gave the US another slave state, one that was massive and that disturbed the balance between slave states and free states.
After the war, America suffered many losses (although not nearly as much as Mexico). Aside from the casualties and supplies, the US signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. They also bought almost all of current-day California, Nevada, and Utah, while getting sections of New Mexico, Wyoming, Arizona, and Colorado.
The Mexican-American War transformed the nation because of the actions that occurred especially before and after the war. Before the war, the United States annexed Texas, originally part of Mexico before its revolution and independence in 1836. This gave the US another slave state, one that was massive and that disturbed the balance between slave states and free states.
After the war, America suffered many losses (although not nearly as much as Mexico). Aside from the casualties and supplies, the US signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. They also bought almost all of current-day California, Nevada, and Utah, while getting sections of New Mexico, Wyoming, Arizona, and Colorado.