Background:
The treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ended the Mexican American war which started on April 1846 and ended on February 1846. The United States and Mexico have a long history together. Many say that the annexation of Texas was thought to have be an act of war against the government of Mexico. Since the Mexican government never recognized Texas as an independent republic, The US from Mexico's standpoint was taking their land. Prior to the war, president Polk sent an unvoild to Mexico to offer them five million for what is now known as New Mexico and forty million for present day California. But the Mexican government refused the offer and took it as an insult. President Polk who was known for being an expansionist was equally insulted and provided little effort to prevent the war. The diplomacy of the war was conducted in a way where the US maneuverd armies in strategic positions north of Mexico. The regions of California and New Mexico where successfully taken in the summer of 1846 and the fighting between the two armies ended the following January with the signing of the treaty of Cahuenga in 1847. The US used most of 1847 invading the central part of Mexico and evantually occupied Mexico City. However, Mexico still had not accepted the lost of California and New Mexico and still offered only the sell of Alta California. Many East coast democrats were in favor of total annexation of Mexico and felt many mexicans would be in favor of this move. But
president Polk defied that possibility by using his state of the union address to shoot down any possibilty of annexing Mexico. And claimed that the Mexican people had a right to their own independence. The reality of the move by Polk, was not to benifit the Mexican people but to only ensure California and New Mexico for the US and its interest. Polk and Nicholas Trist supported the manifest Destiny. Nicholas Trist, the chief clurk of the state department under Polk helped him negotiate the treaty between Mexico and the US. Although Polk did not approve of
the way Nicholas negotiated the treaty, because the treaty was not at the best interest of the United States he passed the treaty to the US senate for approval.
president Polk defied that possibility by using his state of the union address to shoot down any possibilty of annexing Mexico. And claimed that the Mexican people had a right to their own independence. The reality of the move by Polk, was not to benifit the Mexican people but to only ensure California and New Mexico for the US and its interest. Polk and Nicholas Trist supported the manifest Destiny. Nicholas Trist, the chief clurk of the state department under Polk helped him negotiate the treaty between Mexico and the US. Although Polk did not approve of
the way Nicholas negotiated the treaty, because the treaty was not at the best interest of the United States he passed the treaty to the US senate for approval.
Gen. Zachary Taylor
Gen. Zachary Taylor pictured on a white horse at the Battle of Buena Vista during the Mexican-American War; colored engraving, 19th century.
Gen. Zachary Taylor was later elected president in 1848.