|
Mexican-American War 1846 - 1848
The Mexican-American War is also called the
Mexican War or
Guerra de 1847, if you speak Spanish.
|
|
Image Above:
U.S. General
Winfield Scott and his troops
entering Mexico City on September 14, 1847.
The Mexican-American War in a Nutshell
This war was fought
April 25, 1846 - February 2, 1848. The Americans won. Mexico lost
big.
Involved was
Antonio López de Santa Anna, who lost California, Arizona,
and New Mexico for his country.
What Triggered the
Mexican-American War?
Mexico viewed the
Nueces River as their boundary.
The
Americans begged to differ and rather saw the Rio Grande as their boundary.
When American
General Zachary Taylor
crossed the Nueces River and stationed his troops at Point Isabel,
Mexican General Mariano Arista and his troops crossed the Rio
Grande.
They ran into each other for the first time on April 25, 1846.
|
Mexico Claimed the
Nueces River,
the United States the Rio Grande as their Boundary
CLICK MAP TO ENLARGE
War Declaration
The United States declared war on Mexico on May 13, 1846.
The
reason?
Mexican troops stationed at Matamoros targeted Fort Brown.
(See map above)
President James Knox Polk declared this an
invasion of American soil.
What Ended the
Mexican-American War?
The
Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the war. The United States
won.
The Battles of the
Mexican-American War
Among others, the battles of the Mexican-American war were:
May 8, 1846 -
Battle of Palo Alto
May 9, 1846 - Battle of Resaca de la Palma
February 22 - 23, 1847 - Battle of Buena Vista
April 18, 1847 - Battle of Cerro Gordo
Battles of the
Mexican-American War
CLICK MAP TO ENLARGE
Mexican-American War
Maps
Here is a map of the campaign routes
MEXICAN AMERICAN WAR
Click map to enlarge
And here's a huge map of the US Battle Sites
United
States 1689 - 1945 Battle Sites
Click Map to enlarge
The Mexican-American
War and Texas
The following is quoted from the
Atlas of Texas, 1976, used with permission of the University of Texas
Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin.
In July 1845 Texas formally accepted an
American proposal to be annexed to the United States. Already
strained relations between the United States and Mexico rapidly
worsened. President James K. Polk ordered General Zachary
Taylor and his troops to Corpus Christi. In March 1846, under
instructions, Taylor took up positions on the Rio Grande. On April
26 an American squadron of dragoons surrounded by Mexicans and
unable to fight its way out surrendered. Several Americans lost
their lives in the defeat.
On May 8 the Mexicans intercepted Taylor
at Palo Alto but were driven back. The next day Mexicans again gave
way in battle at Resaca de la Palma. In June Taylor began a march
toward Monterrey, taking that city on September 25. Two months later
the Americans took Saltillo and with little effort filed into
Tampico.
Santa Anna now took the field against
the American forces in northern Mexico, finally engaging the
Americans at Buena Vista in February. Upon learning of the Mexican's
design, General John E. Wool marched from San Antonio to join
Taylor's forces, abandoning his prior plans to take Chihuahua. After
extremely bitter fighting Santa Anna pulled out his army, leaving
Taylor in control of northern Mexico.
While Taylor pursued the enemy, Colonel
Stephen W. Kearny took the "Army of the West" into New
Mexico, capturing Santa Fe on August 16, 1846. Kearny then divided
his forces, taking part to California and sending the remainder
under Alexander W. Doniphan against Chihuahua. After General
Winfield Scott captured Mexico City the two countries finally
reached a settlement.
Source: Maps adapted from The West
Point Atlas of American Wars, Volume 1, Frederick A. Praeger,
1959.
Check the
costs of major US wars in comparison.
Check the American war casualties report
See also
American Timeline.
More History
|
