MexicanAmerican War

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Mexican-American War
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How It Started

• James Polk campaigned in 1844 as someone who
  favored expansion in all areas.
• He annexed Texas in 1845.
• He now wanted the entire southwest (which
  belonged to Mexico).

Hes the first president with a mullet!
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Polk Starts a War

• Polk thought going to war w/Mexico would get the
  U.S. all of California, Arizona, New Mexico.
• Meanwhile, Texas began disputing its border
  w/Mexico.
• Polk orders U.S. troops to enter the disputed
  territory (i.e. Mexican territory).
• Mexican troops retaliated by firing on the
  troops.
• Polk tells U.S. citizens that Mexico started the
  war.

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U.S. Wins the War (1848)

• U.S. troops killed 50,000 Mexicans.
• Mexico lost half of its original land.
• Damaged relations (obviously) between Mexico and
  U.S.

Oh waittheres more
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I know! It started in 1849, and thats why were
the San Francisco 49ers.
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The California Gold Rush!
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Wait So first the U.S. moved into Texas and
declared independence so they could have
slaves Then Polk started a war and blamed it on
the Mexicans Then the U.S. troops killed 50,000
of their men, took half of their land, and
damaged all diplomatic relations And THEN the
U.S. finds GOLD in that land, which allows it to
prosper economically while Mexico tries to
recover from its losses?? WowI smell a class
debate coming