PW - Mexican-American War Lesson

Mexican-American War

General Scott's entrance into Mexico in the Mexican-American War.

In 1845, the United States took Texas into the Union and set its sights on the Mexican territories of New Mexico and California. U.S. annexation of Texas and other factors led to war in 1846. During the conflict, the United States occupied much of northern Mexico. When the United States eventually won the war, this region was ceded to the United States as a part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

39 OLD ROUGH AND READY Zachary Taylor was given this name by his troops during his long career in the Army, because of his his informal yet confidence-building way of dealing with them and his rough-hewn appearance.40 OLD Fuss AND FEATHERS Gen. Winfield Scott, like his contemporary Zachary Taylor, was a successful soldier (more, however, as an organizer and strategist than as a battlefield leader). Scott earned this nickname by being extremely vain and something of a blusterer.

Wilmot Proviso

During the Mexican-American War, Congress again debated whether slavery would be allowed in New Mexico and California if these territories were acquired from Mexico. The antislavery position was outlined in a proposal called the Wilmot Proviso, but the House of Representatives failed to approve it and the issue of whether to allow or prohibit slavery in new states remained unresolved.

Compromise of 1850

During the 1840s, many members of Congress became increasingly concerned that the issue of slavery, especially its extension into new states, threatened the survival of the nation. Those who favored slavery and those who opposed slavery therefore agreed to five laws that addressed these concerns. Collectively, the five laws are known as the Compromise of 1850. This compromise stated:

Compromise of 1850 1. The state of New Mexico would be established by carving its borders from the state of Texas. 2. New Mexico voters would determine whether the state would permit or prohibit the practice of slavery. 3. California would be admitted to the union as a free state. 4. All citizens would be required to apprehend runaway slaves and return them to their owners. Those who failed to do so would be fined or imprisoned. 5. The slave trade would be abolished in the District of Columbia, but the practice of slavery would be allowed to continue there.

Many northerners and southerners welcomed the passage of the Compromise of 1850 and hoped that it would preserve the Union. Their hopes were dashed about a decade later when the United States became engaged in a devastating civil war.

 

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