🌽History of Native Americans in the Southwest Unit 9 – US Expansion and Mexican-American War

Historical Context

• Early 19th century marked a period of rapid territorial expansion for the United States
• Belief in Manifest Destiny, the idea that US was destined to expand across North America, gained popularity
• US population grew rapidly due to high birth rates and increased immigration (Irish, German)
• Technological advancements (steamboats, railroads) facilitated westward movement
• Removal of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands became a central issue
  • Indian Removal Act of 1830 authorized the relocation of Native Americans to territories west of the Mississippi River
  • Trail of Tears, the forced relocation of Cherokee, Muscogee, Seminole, Chickasaw, and Choctaw nations, resulted in thousands of deaths
• Annexation of Texas in 1845 and the concept of Manifest Destiny heightened tensions with Mexico

Manifest Destiny

• Manifest Destiny, a term coined by journalist John O'Sullivan in 1845, encapsulated the belief that US expansion was inevitable and divinely ordained
• Proponents argued that spreading democracy, Christianity, and American values across the continent was a moral obligation
• Manifest Destiny provided justification for territorial acquisition through diplomacy, purchase, or force
• Idea resonated with many Americans who viewed westward expansion as a means to access new land, resources, and opportunities
• Critics argued that Manifest Destiny was a thinly veiled excuse for imperialism and the displacement of Native Americans
• Manifest Destiny shaped US foreign policy and led to the annexation of Texas, Oregon Country, and the Mexican Cession

Causes of US Expansion

• Population growth and the need for new land and resources drove westward expansion
• Economic opportunities, such as gold rushes (California) and agricultural potential, attracted settlers
• Technological advancements in transportation and communication made migration easier
  • Completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 greatly facilitated westward movement
• Political and ideological factors, including the desire to spread democracy and American values, contributed to expansionist policies
• Sectional tensions between North and South over the extension of slavery into new territories
  • Missouri Compromise of 1820 and the Compromise of 1850 attempted to address this issue
• Belief in Manifest Destiny provided a moral and religious justification for territorial acquisition

Key Events and Battles

• Annexation of Texas in 1845, which Mexico viewed as an act of aggression
• Mexican-American War (1846-1848), triggered by the US annexation of Texas and a dispute over the Rio Grande border
  • US forces, led by General Zachary Taylor, won key battles at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma
  • US invasion of Mexico, with troops capturing Monterrey and Buena Vista
  • Capture of Mexico City by US forces under General Winfield Scott in September 1847
• Bear Flag Revolt in California, where American settlers declared independence from Mexico and established the short-lived California Republic
• Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed in February 1848, ended the Mexican-American War

Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

• Peace treaty signed on February 2, 1848, officially ended the Mexican-American War
• Mexico ceded a vast territory, known as the Mexican Cession, to the United States
  • Mexican Cession included present-day California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming
• US agreed to pay Mexico $15 million for the acquired territory
• Rio Grande established as the southern border of Texas
• Citizenship and property rights of Mexicans living in the ceded territory addressed
  • Mexicans given the option to become US citizens or move to Mexico
  • Property rights of Mexicans to be respected under US law
• Treaty dramatically altered the political and geographical landscape of North America

Impact on Native American Tribes

• US expansion and the Mexican-American War had devastating consequences for Native American tribes in the Southwest
• Native Americans faced displacement, loss of land, and forced assimilation
• Many tribes, such as the Navajo and Apache, saw their traditional territories divided by the new US-Mexico border
• US government policies aimed at confining Native Americans to reservations and suppressing their cultural practices
  • Reservation system, which restricted tribes to designated areas, disrupted traditional ways of life
  • Boarding schools established to assimilate Native American children into white American culture
• Increased settlement and resource exploitation led to conflicts between Native Americans and settlers
  • Gold Rush in California resulted in the displacement and violence against indigenous peoples
• Treaties, such as the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, often failed to protect the rights and interests of Native American tribes

Cultural and Social Consequences

• US expansion and the Mexican-American War led to significant cultural and social changes in the Southwest
• Influx of American settlers, along with their language, customs, and values, transformed the region
• Spanish and Mexican influences, including language, architecture, and cuisine, persisted and blended with American culture
• Mestizaje, the mixing of Spanish, indigenous, and African peoples, continued to shape the region's cultural identity
• Socioeconomic disparities emerged between the Anglo-American newcomers and the established Mexican and Native American populations
  • Access to land, resources, and political power often favored the Anglo-American settlers
• Anti-Mexican sentiment and discrimination increased in the aftermath of the war
• Cultural clashes and tensions between different ethnic and racial groups persisted

Legacy and Modern Perspectives

• Mexican-American War and US expansion had lasting impacts on the political, social, and cultural landscape of the Southwest
• Acquisition of new territories fueled debates over the extension of slavery, contributing to the growing sectional divide that ultimately led to the American Civil War
• Displacement and marginalization of Native American tribes continues to shape contemporary issues and struggles for indigenous rights
• Chicano Movement of the 1960s and 1970s sought to reclaim Mexican American identity and challenge discrimination
• Ongoing debates over immigration, border security, and cultural identity in the Southwest
• Legacy of the war remains contentious, with differing interpretations and perspectives
  • Some view it as a necessary step in US expansion and the fulfillment of Manifest Destiny
  • Others criticize it as an unjust war of aggression and a symbol of American imperialism
• Impact of the Mexican-American War and US expansion continues to shape discussions on race, ethnicity, and national identity in the United States