1. Louisiana Purchase
   1. Doubled the territory of the United States
      1. Extending it to the Rocky mountains
      2. Mexico won its independence against Spain in 1821
         1. Texas broke off from Mexico
            1. 1845 Congress brought it into the Union as a state
2. James Polk
   1. Expansionist
      1. Main objectives included the acquisition of California
         1. Ordered General Taylor to move troops to the Rio Grande
            1. "A corps of properly organized volunteers would invade, overrun, and occupy Mexico"
            2. Mexicans fired the first shot , which is what American government wanted
            3. Declared war and dispatch of troops
            4. Whig party against this
            5. Wanted California, but to get it without violence
            6. Antislavery Congressman voted against all war measures
            7. The war would only be for the horrible purpose of of perpetuating American slavery throughout the vast territory of Mexico
            8. This comment fully reflects American history
   2. Democrat
3. Superior/Inferior
   1. "Give life, liberty, and democracy" to people if we controlled land
      1. We all know this is not the case
   2. Mexicans are inferior to Americans
      1. "The universal Yankee nation can regenerate and disenthrall the people of Mexico in a few years and we believe it is a part of our destiny to civilize.."
         1. Once again we see our justification to take over as means to "civilize" people
   3. Congressman from Ohio opposed the war because he was afraid of inferior people and Americans to mix
      1. This is completely racist and inaccurate
4. Important Figures
   1. Henry David Thoreau
      1. Lives in Concord, MA
         1. Believes in resistance to civil government and civil disobedience
   2. Ralph Waldo Emerson
      1. fellow writer
         1. thought it was imperative to protest
5. Public opinion
   1. Churches
      1. Either outspokenly for the war or timidly silent against it
         1. One baptist minister in Boston criticized the war
   2. American Peace Society
      1. Published poems, speeches, petitions, etc, against the war
         1. Supported it with eyewitness accounts of degradation of the army life and battle
   3. Abolitionists
      1. Viewed the war as aggressive, invasion, conquest, etc.
         1. The fundamental principles our nation was built on is never really utilized
   4. Frederick Douglass
      1. Former slave
         1. Says Mexico is doomed victim to America
   5. 1846 election
      1. Demonstrates anti-Polk sentiment
6. Newspapers
   1. Were they reporting a feeling or creating a feeling?
      1. It is impossible to know the extent of popular support, but many organized workingmen opposed the war
         1. Demonstrations opposing the war
7. Recruiting for the army
   1. By 1846 recruitment was falling off
      1. Physical requirements were lowered and would get paid if you brought in recruits
      2. Congress authorized ten new regiments of regulars
         1. Some felt regulars were favored
   2. Deserters
      1. Army reported over a thousand deserters
         1. Perhaps this was due to a pointless, mismanaged war
8. "The elements"
   1. 2nd regiment of Mississippi rifles was stricken by cold and sickness
      1. Packed 800 men into 3 ships
         1. Logically, why wouldn't these people catch sickness easily?
   2. By land and sea, Anglo-Americans were moving into California
      1. Raided Spanish-Americans
         1. Stole horses and declared California as separate
            1. U.S. totally disregards people as inferior and as a result there is too much mistreatment
9. Gaining of land
   1. General Kearney moved easily into New Mexico
      1. However, many rebelled and were unsatisfied
         1. There were rebellions in Los Angeles as well
   2. As acquiring land continued, thousands died on both sides
      1. In Vera Cruz thousands of civilians died from U.S. bombardment
         1. You have to question how ethics plays a minimal role
      2. In a way, it turned into American elite against the Mexican elite
         1. Battles fought without point
            1. There is clearly inaccurate information and miscommunication
   3. Final Battle of Mexico City
      1. "In some cases whole blocks were destroyed and a great number of men, women and children were wounded and killed"
         1. Children should never be involved in this
10. End result
    1. Mexico surrenders
       1. Calls among Americans to take all of Mexico
          1. The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was signed
             1. America took half
             2. Texas boundary set at RIo Grande
             3. U.S. paid Mexico 15 million