Prior to the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), several important events and developments occurred that set the stage for the conflict:
-
Texas Independence (1836): Texas, initially part of Mexico, declared its independence in 1836 after a rebellion against Mexican rule. The Republic of Texas existed as an independent nation until 1845 and sought to join the United States, which was a contentious issue due to the balance of slave and free states.
-
Annexation of Texas (1845): In March 1845, the U.S. Congress passed a resolution to annex Texas, which angered the Mexican government, as they still considered Texas a part of their territory. The annexation was also significant because it raised tensions surrounding the expansion of slavery in new states.
-
Slidell Mission (1845): In late 1845, President James K. Polk sent John Slidell to Mexico to negotiate the purchase of California and New Mexico and to resolve the border dispute over Texas. The Mexican government refused to meet with Slidell, worsening relations.
-
Border Dispute: The U.S. claimed that the southern border of Texas was the Rio Grande River, whereas Mexico believed it was the Nueces River, further escalating tensions between the two nations.
-
Military Conflict (1846): In April 1846, after skirmishes between U.S. forces and Mexican troops in the disputed territory between the Nueces River and the Rio Grande, Polk sent a message to Congress claiming that American blood had been shed on American soil. Congress declared war on Mexico on May 13, 1846.
These events contributed to the outbreak of the Mexican-American War, which ultimately resulted in significant territorial gains for the United States.
1 answer