| Event
|
Date |
Location |
Significance |
| Mexico snubs Slidell |
November 1845 |
Mexico City |
Pres. Polk instructs John Slidell to offer up to $25 million for New
Mexico and California. Insulted Mexicans refuse to see Slidell. |
|
| Polk orders troops to southern Texas |
January 1846 |
Rio Grande River |
Zachary Taylor and 4000 men are sent to disputed territory, expecting
attack. Conflict with Mexican troops results in 16 American casualties. |
| Congress declares war on Mexico |
May 1846 |
Washington, D.C. |
Polk asks for war with Mexico. Northern Whigs fear victory would add
more slave states to U.S. Declaration passes 40-2 in Senate, 174-14 in
House. Whig Congressman Lincoln asks for the spot on American soil where
American blood was shed. |
| Bear Flag Republic established |
June 1846 |
Northern California |
John C. Fremont and volunteers capture town of Sonoma and hoist Bear
Flag. |
| Americans capture Monterey |
July 1846 |
Monterey, California |
250 sailors capture Mexico's California capital without a shot. |
| Kearny takes Santa Fe |
August 1846 |
New Mexico |
Marching from Kansas to California, Stephen Kearny's 1700 men take key
Mexican trading post. |
| Battle of San Pascual |
December 1846 |
San Diego, California |
In fierce fighting, Kearny's forces barely survive attack of Mexican
lancers. |
| Battle of San Gabriel |
January 1847 |
San Gabriel, California |
Californio forces retreat as American forces cross San Gabriel River
and take Los Angeles |
| Battle of Buena Vista |
February 1847 |
Central Mexico |
With a much larger army (20,000 to Taylor's 5,000), Santa Anna is
unable to defeat Taylor's American forces. |
| Veracruz |
March 1847 |
East coast of Mexico |
Winfield Scott and 14,000 men capture port and begin following
Cortez's route to Mexico City |
| Mexico City |
September 1847 |
Central Mexico |
U.S. captures city. Santa Anna loses 4,000 of his 25,000-man army,
while Scott loses 900 of his 10,000. |
| Treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo |
February 2, 1848 |
Central Mexico |
Mexico gives up all claim to Texas. U.S. pays Mexico $15 million and
agrees to assume American citizens' claims ($3,250,000) against Mexico.
Expansionists call for "All Mexico." Senate passes treaty
38-14. |
|
|
