DK - The American Civil War

Later presidents were more supportive,

however, and in 1845 Texas joined the

United States. Mexico rejected the

annexation, and hostilities began when

American dragoons engaged Mexican

cavalry along the disputed Rio Grande

border. On May 10, 1846, President

James K. Polk declared, “American

blood has been shed on American soil.”

Despite the opposition of influential

figures such as New York Tribune editor

Horace Greeley, Congress declared war

three days later.

In September, an army under

General Zachary Taylor captured the

Mexican city of Monterey. Santa Anna,

whose career had taken several twists

since his capture in 1836, returned to

Mexico from exile and declared himself

president once more. In February 1847,

Taylor defeated him at the Battle of

Buena Vista. In March, General

Winfield Scott launched the largest

amphibious landing ever, when his

12,000 troops disembarked near

Veracruz. Scott’s army finally entered

Mexico City on September 14.

A QUESTION OF UNION

The War with Mexico 1846–48 was

generally popular in the South, but split the

North and reopened discussions on slavery.

The philosopher and writer Henry David

Thoreau went to jail rather than pay taxes

during the war. Others saw it as part of the

nation’s Manifest Destiny to

occupy the entire

continent.

SCHOOL OF WAR

This war served as

the training ground

for future Civil War

commanders,

including Winfield Scott,

Ulysses S. Grant, and

Robert E. Lee 64–65 ❯❯.

They learned to wage war far from supply lines,

command and train soldiers, and participate in

operations with the Navy. Scott was rewarded

with a gold medal from Congress, after his

troops occupied Mexico City in September 1847.

NEW BORDERS

In the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which

ended the war on February 2, 1848, the

Americans gained land including the modern

states of Arizona, New Mexico, California, and

parts of Colorado, Utah, and Nevada. Apart

from some minor issues, the treaty finalized

the borders of the United States.

nation responded to the rival claims
of federal power and states’ rights.
Southern states had long coveted
Indian lands east of the Mississippi.
Although federal treaties and the
U.S. Supreme Court denied these states
the right to steal Indian territory,
Jackson chose to support the state of
Georgia’s right to seize Indian land. He
sent in the army to ensure the removal
of Cherokee and other tribes that
resisted. Thousands died on this “Trail of
Tears” as the refugees trekked west.

Nullification Crisis
Disputes also arose over federal tariffs,
or taxes, intended to protect industry in
the North. The South resented the tariff
because it made European imports into
the region more costly. In 1830, South
Carolina considered refusing to enforce
a tariff passed by Congress in 1828.
When another tariff was passed in
1832, South Carolina declared that this
and the 1828 tariff were null and void

AFTER

within the borders of the state. Congress

denied South Carolina’s right to opt out

and authorized Jackson to do whatever

was necessary to enforce federal law.

The Nullification Crisis came to an end

in 1833 when South Carolina, finding

itself isolated and its claims rejected by

other Southern states, backed down.

War with Mexico

As Jackson’s term ended, his approach

to another crisis was more cautious.

In the 1820s, many Americans had

emigrated to the territory of Texas, and

by 1835 were seeking its independence.

After trying to negotiate with Mexican

leader Antonio López de Santa Anna,

the Texans took to arms. In the ensuing

hostilities, they rallied from defeat at

the Alamo in March 1836 to capture

Santa Anna at San Jacinto a few

months later. They then established

their own republic and inquired about

joining the Union. Jackson and his

successor, Martin Van Buren, demurred

for fear of precipitating war with Mexico.

Henry Clay Campaign ribbon
A social lion with great charisma, Senator Henry Clay
received the Whig Party’s presidential nomination in
1832 and 1844, but was unsuccessful both times. He
advocated protective tariffs to aid Western development.

SCOTT’S MEDAL

TARIFFS Customs duties that are levied

on certain imported goods. These taxes

are usually designed to protect domestic

producers of similar goods.

“Our federal Union—it must

and shall be preserved.”

ANDREW JACKSON, 1830

The Battle of Buena Vista

At Buena Vista in February 1847, General Zachary Taylor

used his artillery to such good effect that he defeated a

larger force under the Mexican leader, Santa Anna. The

victory helped propel him into the presidency in 1849.