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Mexican American War
| December 29, 1845 | Texas is admitted to the United States as a slave state. It is the 28th state and the margin of slave to free states in the Senate after admittance is 15-13. | Texas |
| March 11, 1846 | U. S. troops move into disputed land between Nueces and Rio Grande Rivers | Texas |
| April 25, 1846 | United States troops, sent to the disputed portion of the Texas border to provoke an incident, are attacked by Mexican troops, precipitating the Mexican-American War | Texas |
| William Hardee | ||
| May 8, 1846 | Zachary Taylor wins the battle of Palo Alto | |
| Zachary Taylor | ||
| May 9, 1846 | Zachary Taylor wins the battle of Resaca de la Palma | |
| Zachary Taylor | ||
| May 11, 1846 | James Polk informs Congress about Mexican agression in territory claimed by both the United States and Mexico | Texas |
| James Polk | ||
| May 13, 1846 | United States declares war on Mexico | |
| May 23, 1846 | Mexico declares war against the United States | |
| June 26, 1846 | Dragoons and volunteers leave Fort Leavenworth and head west to reinforce California and seize San Diego and Los Angeles. They return from a successful mission in August, 1847 | Kansas |
| August 19, 1846 | Zachary Taylor begins a move toward Monterrey | |
| Zachary Taylor | ||
| September 21, 1846 September 23, 1846 |
Battle of Monterrey, Mexico | |
| Zachary Taylor | ||
| George Thomas | ||
| February 22, 1847 February 23, 1847 |
Battle of Buena Vista (Mexican-American War) | |
| George Thomas | ||
| Braxton Bragg | ||
| Jefferson Davis | ||
| Zachary Taylor | ||
| March 9, 1847 | U. S. Marines under the command of Winfield Scott begin the largest amphibious landing in the history of the United States at the time near the Mexican city of Vera Cruz. | |
| Winfield Scott | ||
| March 29, 1847 | U. S. forces occupy Vera Cruz | |
| Winfield Scott | ||
| April 18, 1847 | Battle of Cerro Gordo | |
| George McClellan | ||
| September 14, 1847 | General Winfield Scott effectively ends the fighting in the Mexican-American War by capturing Mexico City, capitol of Mexico. | |
| Winfield Scott | ||
| February 2, 1848 | Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo signed, ending the Mexican-American War |
Mexican American War
One of the major issues in James Polk's campaign during the Election of 1844 was the annexation of Texas. In 1845 the Republic of Texas became the state of Texas. Although Mexico had never recognized the independant Republic, it had done almost nothing to reclaim the territory and Santa Anna was in exile. In late 1845, Polk reassigned Zachary Taylor to Louisiana in preparation to insured Mexico respected the new borders of the United States.
Further aggrevating the situation was Mexican political turmoil. John Slidell, representing the United States, had journeyed to Mexico City with an offer to buy additional Mexican territory in the Southwest and along the Pacific Ocean. His creditials were never accepted and Slidell was forced to return to the United States.
In March, 1846, American forces moved to the southern border of Texas, the Rio Grande River. The only problem was that Mexico recognized the Nueces River as the border. On April 23, 1846 Taylor ordered Captain Samuel Thorton to advance with his and William Hardee's companies of dragoons to reconoitter a 22-mile stretch of the Rio Grande. More than 1,500 Mexicans attacked the dragoons on April 25.
Links appearing on this page:
One of the major issues in James Polk's campaign during the Election of 1844 was the annexation of Texas. In 1845 the Republic of Texas became the state of Texas. Although Mexico had never recognized the independant Republic, it had done almost nothing to reclaim the territory and Santa Anna was in exile. In late 1845, Polk reassigned Zachary Taylor to Louisiana in preparation to insured Mexico respected the new borders of the United States.
Further aggrevating the situation was Mexican political turmoil. John Slidell, representing the United States, had journeyed to Mexico City with an offer to buy additional Mexican territory in the Southwest and along the Pacific Ocean. His creditials were never accepted and Slidell was forced to return to the United States.
In March, 1846, American forces moved to the southern border of Texas, the Rio Grande River. The only problem was that Mexico recognized the Nueces River as the border. On April 23, 1846 Taylor ordered Captain Samuel Thorton to advance with his and William Hardee's companies of dragoons to reconoitter a 22-mile stretch of the Rio Grande. More than 1,500 Mexicans attacked the dragoons on April 25.
Links appearing on this page:
Election of 1844
James Polk
Louisiana
Texas
William Hardee
Zachary Taylor
Mexican American War was last changed on - March 5, 2007
Mexican American War was added in 2005
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