The Mexican War

• Although the USA had a smaller army, it had twice the population and a much stronger industrial base than Mexico and so fair greater military potential
• Mexican forces were poorly led and equipped
• USA advantages:

  • superior artillery
  • many junior officers, many were well trained at West Point
  • enthusiastic (mostly southern and western) volunteers
  • naval supremacy
• Summer of 1846, US troops, led by Colonel Kearney, marched unopposed into Santa Fe and announced the annexation of New Mexico
• Kearney then left for California
• By the time Kearney arrived in California, the province was largely under US control
• American settlers in California had announced independence from Mexico
• They were helped by John C Fremont, in the region on an exploratory expedition, and by a US naval squadron, stationed at Californian coast
• Kearney's arrival in December ended what little Mexican resistance remained
• Polk hoped that Mexico would accept defeat and the loss of New Mexico and California but General Santa Anna refused
• By Autumn of 1847, the Mexican War was essentially over
• War cost Americans $100 million and 13,000 dead soldiers - 2000 from battle and 11,000 from disease
• Mexican losses were 25,000
• Some Southerners called for the annexation of all Mexico but many Northerners wanted to annex no territory whatsoever